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Original poster

Would you send a child to school with a temp?

49 replies

Loobieloo27 · 13/10/2019 17:52

My 4yo dd is in reception. She's been snotty for about a week but yesterday developed a temp of 39.2. After calpol it started to come down but once calpol wears off starts rising again. Its now hovering around the 38 mark but appears fine in herself, tonsils fine and says no pain anywhere.

She wants to go to school tomorrow but im unsure, if she was outwardly poorly id keep her off but even with a temp of 39 she said she was ok just lethargic. What do others do?

OP posts:
shegoeshere · 13/10/2019 17:57

Is it 38 after calpol? If it's 38 with no medicine then I would send her as she's well in herself.

FindaPenny · 13/10/2019 17:58

No definitely not. If she's tired and has a fever it's a sign she needs a rest. Also the effect might only be tiredness in her... But in another child could make them much more ill.

Lilytheblue · 13/10/2019 17:59

Yes I would if she felt fine

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Maryann1975 · 13/10/2019 17:59

I think the official guidance is that if the child can not control their own temperature without medicine, then hey shouldn’t be in school. But, many, many parents will dose their child up with ibuprofen, send them to school and hope for the best.

Is her temp 38 after having calpol or as the calpol is wearing off? If a child is lethargic, they are probably not going to learn a great deal and just want to sit quietly on the sofa and do nothing while they get better.

user1573334 · 13/10/2019 18:00

No I wouldn't.

OneOfTheGrundys · 13/10/2019 18:00

No. She needs a rest. And the other kids and staff don’t need what she’s got.

Purpleartichoke · 13/10/2019 18:04

At our school, it must be below 38 unmediated for 24 hours before you can return. 38 with medication means stay home.

Lucindainthesky · 13/10/2019 18:08

Yeah, send a 4yo with a 39 degree temp to school. That'll ensure she takes twice as long to get over whatever it is and the rest of the class can catch it too. Great plan!

Kaykay06 · 13/10/2019 18:09

I wouldn’t medicate a temp below 38.5 if child was well in themselves and uncomplaining but you’d want them to be able to do that at least overnight and be well in the morning. Just might be one of those things she’s either fought something off or brewing something, time will tell. Mine have had random temps and been absolutely fine and never become unwell, hopefully she’ll be absolutely fine for school tomorrow

MustardScreams · 13/10/2019 18:11

You don’t need to medicate a temp if there’s not pain or discomfort btw. It’s the body fighting off the bug, reducing the temp only extends the illness.

I wouldn’t send dd in if she had a temp, but I am very soft!

Sparrowlegs248 · 13/10/2019 18:12

I wouldn't. Ds1 has had a snotty cold and really bad cough all week, but no temperature as yet the school.commented about his bad cough, bit I can't really keep him off for a cough. He had a "bad cough" for most of last winter.

GymNovice · 13/10/2019 18:31

No, they have to be 24 hours normal temp after s fever before we can send them back.

Devonishome1 · 13/10/2019 18:33

Definitely not.

EdithWeston · 13/10/2019 18:41

No. It's a sign of infection and DC needs to rest (and not spread it round more than they might already have done).

Return when she is both feeling well,and has had an unmedicated normal temperature for at least 24 hours

IncrediblySadToo · 13/10/2019 18:43

Nope, but only because I don’t think it’s fair to spread it around.

notangelinajolie · 13/10/2019 18:44

No.

ballsdeep · 13/10/2019 18:45

No it's bloody selfish. She obviously is unwell and you're sending her in to spread germs around everyone else

chuck7 · 13/10/2019 18:46

Nope. And especially not when they're only 4, that's still so little and just not worth the risk.

PotteringAlong · 13/10/2019 18:48

I’d see how she was in the morning but if she was ok in herself then yes I would.

AllFourOfThem · 13/10/2019 18:48

Under 38C and I possibly wouldn’t even notice the temperature if DC was acting normally and saying all was fine. From 39C upwards, even of medicine brought down the temperature I wouldn’t send in because more medicine would need to be given in four hours to maintain it staying down.

Whilst agree you don’t need to medicate a fever with no other symptoms I always would if it is going up quickly. A quickly spiking temperature can result in febrile convulsions.

BillieEilish · 13/10/2019 18:49

Parents like you make my life hell. So bloody selfish.

Grobagsforever · 13/10/2019 18:50

I would. I work full time and covering holidays is hard enough without sick days too. I'd double dose (calpol and ibuprofen) in morning and cross my fingers.

If I kept them off every time they had a fever I'd be fired. That's life, they'll have to go to work when they are ill

Grobagsforever · 13/10/2019 18:51

@BillieEilish how? School is literally a hot bed of germs, teachers dragging themselves in ill etc.

BillieEilish · 13/10/2019 18:54

You clearly have no awareness other than 'double dosing' as you have a 'full time job' so no point in explaining to you is there?

Unbelievable.

ilovetofu · 13/10/2019 18:58

No!