When to Keep Your Child Home from School

Now that they are back in school, you can expect your kids to come home with all sorts of colds, ailments and even lice.

The big question is, when do you give in and keep them home from school?

After all, keeping them out of school can mean a hassle at work, causing you to juggle schedules around.

And if they're just "playing possum," you'll do all that work for nothing. But if your child is really sick, then you have to have a back-up game plan; both for taking them to the doctor if necessary, and staying home with them to care for them.

Or even to possibly keep them from playing video games all day.

What is a parent to do?

Dr. Anita Chandra, MD, and Melanie Cole, MS, offer you the signs, symptoms and reasons to why and when you should keep your kids home from school... and when you should send them on their way.
When to Keep Your Child Home from School
Featuring:
Dr. Anita Chandra, MD
Anita Chandra-Puri 2010Dr. Chandra practices pediatrics with Northwestern Memorial Physician's Group in Chicago. Originally from Ohio, she received her bachelor's degree from Miami University in 1991 and medical degree from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in 1995. After completing her residency at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, she worked as a pediatric hospitalist and then joined her current practice. Dr. Chandra maintains a strong affiliation with the medical school as an Instructor in Clinical Pediatrics at Northwestern University. She serves as faculty tutor for the Problem Based Learning Curriculum and was appointed to the Medical School's Curriculum Committee. Over the years she worked in various capacities with the AAP Illinois Chapter. She serves on the Committee on Infectious Diseases and is faculty with both the Reaching Our Goals and Adolescent Immunization.