Attendance policy for Illness

The student can return to school after he/she feels better and has been without a fever for at least 24 hrs.

Most cases of diarrhea and vomiting in children get better without treatment, but if symptoms persist, consult your health care provider.

Chickenpox is extremely contagious here in Niamey. If your child has chickenpox, they must not come to school until all their spots have crusted over.

(Conjunctivitis) is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the thin clear tissue that lies over the white part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelid. If you suspect that your child may have conjunctivitis please keep them home from school and consult your HP as conjunctivitis caused by bacteria and viruses can spread easily from person to person. It is not a serious health risk if diagnosed promptly. Pinkeye in newborn babies, however, should be reported to a doctor immediately, as it could be a vision-threatening infection.

Both these illnesses have similar symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, soreness, vomiting, and diarrhea. If your child shows these symptoms you should consult your HP immediately and keep them home from school. They can return 24-48 hours after they start to feel better and their temperature has returned to normal.

If your child has a raised temperature, they shouldn’t attend school. They can return 24-48 hours after they start to feel better and their temperature has returned to normal. Children with a temperature at or above 38 degrees C will be sent home from school and must remain at home for 48 hours and return to school only when their temperature is normal.

A child with a minor cough or cold may attend school. If the cold is accompanied by a raised temperature, shivers or drowsiness, or a heavy runny nose the child should stay off school, visit your healthcare provider (HP) and return to school 24 hours after they start to feel better. If your child has a more severe and long-lasting cough, consult your HP. They can give guidance on whether your child should stay off school.

A mild sore throat alone doesn’t have to keep a child from school. But if it’s accompanied by a raised temperature, your child should stay at home.

Head lice are tiny insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. An infestation of head lice, called pediculosis capitis, most often affects children and usually results from the direct transfer of lice from the hair of one person to the hair of another. A head lice infestation isn’t a sign of poor personal hygiene or an unclean living environment. Head lice don’t carry bacterial or viral infectious diseases. You may not be aware of a lice infestation. However, common signs and symptoms can include: Itching on the scalp, neck and ears, lice may be visible but are difficult to spot because they’re small, avoid light and move quickly, lice eggs (nits) on hair shafts. Nits stick to hair shafts. Incubating nits may be difficult to see because they’re very tiny. They’re easiest to spot around the ears and the hairline of the neck. If your child has these symptoms please see your HP immediately or start an over the counter treatment. Children may not come to school until they are clear of head lice.