Keeping Milton Healthy: Student Illness Guidelines

To keep our school community safe and healthy, we ask that students stay home with contagious illnesses such as cold and flu. Please use the following guidelines to determine when to keep students home and when to return to school after common illnesses. For detailed guidance from our nurses on other contagious illnesses, see our Upper School Student Handbook.

Fever

Students with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher should remain at home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of any fever-reducing medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

Students should remain home until symptom-free for at least 24 hours and they are able to eat and drink comfortably.

Cough and Cold

Students with coughs and colds should attempt to attend school. However, if they have discomfort from their symptoms, fever (see above), and/or continuous nasal drainage that is not clear, they should remain home and be evaluated by their pediatrician.

Strep Throat and Illness Requiring Antibiotics

Students requiring antibiotics may not return to school until at least 24 hours after taking the first dose of antibiotics and only if they feel well enough. Strep infections can cause some students to feel ill for days before they are well enough to attend school.

COVID-19

Students who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate through day 5 (day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date of a positive test if asymptomatic). Students can return on day 6 if they are feeling better and have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without any fever-reducing medication. Students who have returned to school after isolation must wear a mask through day 10.

Boarding Student Illness

Boarding students who become ill should visit the Health Center, located at 348 Centre Street, as soon as their symptoms arise. The Health Center is staffed by registered nurses 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Health Center Contact

For questions regarding any of this information, please contact the Health Center at 617-898-2450 or healthcenter@milton.edu.