Sick Of School?

How You Can Tell if Your Child is Really Sick or Just Faking it

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

My son doesn't love school and tries to get out of going by pretending he's sick a lot. Sometimes I can tell he's faking, but sometimes I'm just not sure. And even if I think he may be faking, I'm always worried I may be wrong and am sending him to school when he really doesn't feel well. Do you have any surefire ways of telling when a kid is sick or when he's faking it?

Sincerely,

Sick of Guessing

Dear Sick of Guessing,

It can definitely be difficult to tell whether a child is sick or just faking sickness to get out of school. However, if you notice that your child is faking, this is probably a sign of a deeper problem he or she is having that you may want to check out.

How can you tell if your child is really sick?

* Fever. A fever that is 100 or over 100 is a sign that your child's body is fighting an infection. A low grade fever that lasts for more than three days is also a sign that your child needs to be seen by a doctor.

* Spots, rashes, anything raised, itchy or unsightly on your child's body may be a sign that your child is sick and not just allergic. If your child has any of these things for more than a day or two, see a doctor.

* General malaise. When kids stop eating, drinking, performing other bodily functions, are sleeping way more than usual, or are performing bodily functions way more than usual, your child may be sick. It usually takes a few days of this behavior for a parent to recognize a pattern that may imply illness.

* Green mucus usually indicates an infection, while yellow or clear indicates an allergy or cold. If it's green, you need to keep your child home.

Which conditions warrant keeping kids home?

Ask yourself two questions: 1. Do I want my child who may be sick and have a compromised immune system to get sicker by picking up more bugs and germs while he or she is not fighting germs the way they do when they're healthy? 2. Do I want my child to be infecting other kids?

The answers to those two questions will guide your behavior.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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