Can this child go to school?

[SilleLu]

One patch of hives on Friday. Large amount on Saturday. Symptoms (itching) somewhat relieved with Claritin in the am and Benedryl at HS, but still large amount of hives present Sunday. No previous hx of hives. Does have hx of seasonal allergies (stuffy nose). Very low grade fever and decreased activity on Saturday, resolved by evening after dose of Claritin.

Child is in Kindergarten. Parent intending to call pediatrician on Monday morning, but school starts before office opens.

Only question: Would you want this child brought to your school on Monday morning?

edited to add details

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

In my opinion, no school unless the teacher and staff have the time to check on child throughout the day for s/sx of anaphylaxis. In most school settings, they don't.

Are we sure that the child is not contagious? That is also a concern.

Can the child access an urgent care clinic after hours to get tx and a dx?

[mc3, ASN, RN]

No, I'd say not for the reasons listed above. If a child comes to school with a rash or hives and doesn't have an MD note, they cannot stay.

mc3:cat:

[SilleLu]

Yes, I was wondering if it could be maybe a viral infection causing the hives since she has no hx of allergy other than seasonal. I could take her to urgent care, but it just doesn't seem, well, urgent. I was leaning toward keeping her home and seeing if her pediatrician can see her in the morning...thank you for the responses!

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Even though it may not seem urgent, the hives that are worsening could signify an allergic reaction that could lead to her throat swelling.

I base this on my new nurse background (-; and the fact that when my significant other came down with hives and itching all over his body with unknown origin, the advice nurse told us to get him to urgent care because of a risk of anaphylaxis.

He has no seasonal allergies, but has many food allergies he ignores. We both came into contact with poison ivy a week prior to his hives.

[Wave Watcher]

I ask for children with unexplained rashes to be cleared through their pediatrician. Rashes at times can be hard to diagnose in children. Hope she feels better.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

No, I'd say not for the reasons listed above. If a child comes to school with a rash or hives and doesn't have an MD note, they cannot stay.

mc3:cat:

Agree with this. I'd be calling first thing that morning for you to pick up your child. At that age, if it contagious they will touch everything and I'd worry about spread. And, even worse, if it isn't contagious and is an allergic reaction, it could worsen with further exposure to the allergen, which it this point, isn't known.

[iluvgusgus]

Hives is not a rash... it's an allergic reaction, which is not contagious. For the child's own health and safety, I would hope they would be taken to a dr asap to find out the cause incase it got more severe.

[PrayeRNurse, ASN, RN]

No school. If it is hives the body is trying to take care of a problem. You don't know the cause yet and school may hold the trigger. With each exposure the reaction may become increased leading to a true emergency. No doctor in urgent care or ED would fault a parent for coming in with hives.