here comes a time — usually it’s about 6:30 a.m. — when you have to make the call: Is my child too sick to go to school? Sometimes the decision is clear-cut. High fever or vomiting come to mind. However, it’s the borderline cases that give parents trouble.

Dr. Janet Squires, director of the clinical service of general pediatrics at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, offers the following advice on deciding when to keep a child home:

Sniffles and coughs
Pediatricians agree that children can attend school with the sniffles as long as they feel all right otherwise. But keep your child home if he has a heavy cough accompanied by a steady stream of mucus. Also keep the child home if the cough is accompanied by rapid or labored breathing.

Stomachache
An upset stomach — often caused by anxiety — is the most common complaint among children. Use the “jump test” to make a preliminary evaluation, says Dr. Squires. “Abdominal pain is worrisome and needs to be followed to make sure it isn’t getting worse. But, if the child can jump, she is probably OK to go to school.” If the stomach pain is accompanied by diarrhea or fever, Dr. Squires suggests keeping the child home. If the pain seems severe or persists for several days, consult your physician.

Rashes
It’s important to determine the source of a rash. If it’s poison ivy, for example, the child can go to school as long as the rash is being treated properly. But an unexplained rash may be the first symptom of contagious illnesses such as measles or chickenpox. If the rash is accompanied by other symptoms such as crankiness, lethargy, unusual crying or general discomfort, keep the child home and describe these symptoms to your doctor.

Vomiting
Any child who is vomiting should be kept home. Check with your doctor unless the source of the vomiting is obvious (a reaction to a new food, for example).

Fever
Readings below 100 degrees generally are not cause for concern, says Dr. Squires. If a fever above 100 degrees is combined with a sore throat or rash, this could indicate a more serious illness. Keep the child home and then describe the symptoms to your doctor.