Medically reviewed by Shane D. Naidoo, MD
Medical Director, TrufaMED Urgent Care & Concierge Medicine
Board-Certified, Emergency Medicine
Last reviewed: August 2026
Miami-Dade public schools open August 18, 2026. Miami Beach private schools (Beach High, MAST, Cushman, Carrollton, Riviera, Lehrman) open the same week. By the second week of school we are running urgent care visit volumes 30 to 40 percent above July baseline, with the predictable mix of upper respiratory infections, strep, viral gastroenteritis, hand-foot-and-mouth, conjunctivitis, and the year’s first round of head lice.
This is what to expect, what to keep at home, and when to bring your kid to us.
What We See In The First Six Weeks
Upper respiratory infections
The most common visit. Sore throat, cough, congestion, low-grade fever. Most are viral and resolve in 7 to 10 days with supportive care. Antibiotics are not indicated for viral URI.
Strep throat
Sore throat with fever (over 100.4°F), absence of cough, swollen tender anterior cervical nodes, and visible exudate on the tonsils is the classic picture. We do a rapid antigen test in clinic with PCR backup. Treated with a 10-day course of penicillin or amoxicillin.
Viral gastroenteritis
Vomiting, diarrhea, low-grade fever, mild abdominal cramping. Most cases resolve in 24 to 72 hours with oral rehydration. Watch for dehydration signs in younger children; come in for evaluation if your child cannot keep fluids down for 8+ hours or shows decreased urine output.
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
Common in preschool and early elementary. Fever, mouth sores, vesicular rash on hands and feet. Self-limited, 7 to 10 days. Supportive care; watch for dehydration from painful swallowing.
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Bacterial pink eye gets antibiotic drops; viral resolves on its own. Both are highly contagious in schools. Kids should not return to school until 24 hours after starting antibiotic drops or until symptoms have resolved for viral.
Head lice
Itching scalp, visible nits on hair shafts. Treatment with permethrin or dimethicone-based products, plus thorough combing. We do not exclude children from school for head lice under current AAP guidance, but parents should treat and complete the wet-combing protocol.
Keep Them Home If
- Fever above 100.4°F in the last 24 hours
- Active vomiting or diarrhea
- Significant cough that is disruptive
- Suspected strep throat (until 24 hours after starting antibiotics)
- Active pink eye with discharge (until 24 hours after starting drops)
- Significant rash of unknown cause
- Behavioral changes from baseline (lethargy, unusual irritability)
Bring Them In For Same-Day Evaluation If
- Fever above 102°F not responding to acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Sore throat with fever and visible white spots on tonsils
- Persistent cough longer than 10 days
- Severe ear pain
- Significant rash with fever
- Persistent abdominal pain
- Vomiting or diarrhea over 24 hours, especially with reduced urine
- Any difficulty breathing or wheezing not responsive to home albuterol
Go To The ER (Or 911) For
- Severe difficulty breathing, working hard to breathe, blue lips
- Persistent vomiting with signs of significant dehydration
- Stiff neck with fever (meningitis concern)
- Severe abdominal pain that worsens
- Significant head injury with vomiting, confusion, or loss of consciousness
- Seizure
- Severe allergic reaction with throat tightness, swelling, or breathing difficulty
Pre-School Year Prep
Things parents can do now to minimize sick days:
- Verify all required immunizations are current. Florida requires specific shots before kindergarten and seventh grade entry.
- Schedule any required sports physical (see our sports physical guide).
- Stock home with acetaminophen and ibuprofen (age-appropriate dosing), saline nasal drops, hydrocortisone cream, oral rehydration solution, thermometer.
- Re-establish sleep schedule a week before school starts.
- Talk through hand washing and not sharing water bottles — the two biggest day-to-day prevention levers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you do walk-in pediatric care?
Yes, seven days a week. We evaluate children of all ages including infants.
Can my child get a strep test same day?
Yes. Rapid antigen result in under 15 minutes; PCR backup turned around in 4 to 24 hours.
How long should my child stay home after a fever?
Most schools and our clinical guidance: 24 hours after fever has resolved without anti-fever medication.
What about flu shots before school starts?
The 2026-27 flu vaccine becomes available in late August. We carry it for all ages 6 months and older. Schedule a visit as soon as it arrives.