Illness comparison guides
What's going around: is it X or Y?
When something is going around your kid's school, the first question is always "what is it?" These side-by-side guides help you compare symptoms, contagious periods, and treatment for the most common childhood illnesses. Each one is cross-checked against CDC, AAP, and Mayo Clinic guidance.
Flu, RSV, or just a cold?
Compare respiratory symptoms, contagious periods, and recovery timelines to figure out which bug your kid caught.
- RSV vs. Common Cold: How to Tell the Difference in KidsBoth start with a runny nose and a cough. The difference is in the breathing. A parent's guide to wheezing vs. congestion, fever duration, cough quality, and when to call the pediatrician.Read the guide →
- How Long is the Flu Contagious in Kids? What Parents Need to KnowWondering how long your child can spread the flu? Kids are typically contagious with influenza for about 5 to 7 days, though they can start spreading the virus a day before symptoms even appear.Read the guide →
- How Long is RSV Contagious in Babies and Kids? A Parent's GuideUnderstanding how long RSV is contagious is key to protecting your family. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is typically contagious for 3 to 8 days, but infants and those with weakened immune systems can spread the virus for up to four weeks.Read the guide →
- How Long is a Cold Contagious in Kids? When Can They Go Back to School?It's tough when your little one has a cold, and knowing when they're no longer contagious is key for school and daycare. Kids are generally most contagious with a cold during the first 2-3 days of symptoms, but can remain contagious for up to a week.Read the guide →
- Proactive Surge Management: Urgent Care Tactics for Respiratory SeasonDon't wait for your waiting room to overflow. Learn how urgent care centers can use proactive tracking and better communication to survive the winter respiratory surge.Read the guide →
- That Barking Cough: Croup in Chicago Kids This WinterIs your child's cough sounding like a seal? Croup cases are rising in Chicago. Here's what parents need to know about this common respiratory illness.Read the guide →
- Chicago Flu Season 2025-2026: H3N2 Strain DominatesInfluenza A H3N2 is the dominant flu strain in Chicago this season. Learn about symptoms, treatment, and when to get vaccinated.Read the guide →
- RSV Cases Rising in Chicago: What Parents Need to Know This WinterRSV hospitalizations are climbing among children under 5 in Chicago. Here's how to protect your family and recognize symptoms early.Read the guide →
- Decoding the Common Cold in Chicago Schools: Causes, Cures, and When to Call the DoctorThe sniffles and coughs are a rite of passage for kids, especially with back-to-school season in Chicago. Learn why children catch more colds, effective home remedies, and crucial tips for Chicago parents on when to seek medical advice for their little ones' common cold symptoms.Read the guide →
- Whooping Cough: A Parent's Guide to the "100-Day Cough"Learn how to spot the signs of Whooping Cough (Pertussis), when to call your pediatrician, and how to keep your family and school community safe.Read the guide →
- Croup in Children: Understanding the Barky Cough and When to Seek CareIs that distinctive "barking" cough keeping you up at night? Croup is a common childhood respiratory illness that can be alarming for parents. Learn to recognize the symptoms, provide comfort at home, and know when it's time to call the doctor or head to an urgent care in Chicago.Read the guide →
- Chicago Flu Season: What Chicago Parents Need to Know About School OutbreaksFlu season is here, and with it comes the understandable worry about outbreaks in Chicago schools and daycares. Learn how to protect your family, recognize symptoms, and when to seek medical care during this challenging time.Read the guide →
- How to Prepare for Cold & Flu SeasonTips from Chicago parents on stocking up, staying healthy, and managing sick days when they happen.Read the guide →
Strep throat or a viral sore throat?
Strep needs antibiotics, a viral sore throat does not. These guides help you tell them apart and know when to test.
- How Long Does Strep Throat Last in Kids? A Parent's Guide to RecoveryWondering how long strep throat lasts in kids? With appropriate antibiotic treatment, most children with strep throat start feeling better within 24 to 48 hours and recover fully within 3 to 7 days.Read the guide →
- Is Strep Throat Contagious? What Parents Need to KnowYes, strep throat is highly contagious, especially among children. The good news is that with antibiotic treatment, your child is typically no longer contagious after 24 hours.Read the guide →
- How Do You Get Strep Throat? Understanding Transmission and PreventionStrep throat, a common bacterial infection, primarily spreads through respiratory droplets from an infected person's coughs or sneezes. Understanding how it spreads is key to prevention.Read the guide →
- Strep Throat Season in Chicago: Symptoms, Testing, and TreatmentStrep throat cases are rising in Chicago schools. Learn how to spot the signs and why early treatment matters for your child.Read the guide →
Stomach bug, norovirus, or something else?
Vomiting and diarrhea guides: how long it lasts, how it spreads, and when your child can go back.
- Norovirus in Kids: Symptoms, Duration, and Prevention Tips for ParentsDiscover what norovirus is, how norovirus in kids manifests and spreads, how long it lasts, and practical steps to prevent it, helping you navigate this common childhood illness.Read the guide →
- Stomach Bugs in Kids: Symptoms, Duration, and ContagiousnessWhen your child has a stomach bug, also known as viral gastroenteritis, it usually lasts 1 to 3 days. They are contagious from the moment they start feeling unwell until at least 24 to 48 hours after their last vomit or bout of diarrhea. Recognizing stomach bug symptoms and understanding when your child is contagious can help you manage things at home and protect others.Read the guide →
- Stomach Bug Alert: Norovirus Spreading in Chicago SchoolsNorovirus outbreaks are hitting Chicago daycares and schools hard this winter. Here's how to prevent it and what to do if it strikes your family.Read the guide →
Pink eye, lice, or a rash?
Eye and skin conditions that spread in classrooms and daycares, with contagion and treatment details.
- How Do You Get Pink Eye? Causes, Spread, and Prevention in KidsPink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an inflammation of the clear membrane covering the white part of your eye and the inside of your eyelid. Kids commonly get pink eye through direct contact with an infected person's eye secretions, contaminated surfaces, or by touching their own eyes after exposure to allergens or irritants.Read the guide →
- Is Pink Eye Contagious? What Parents Need to Know About Kids and SchoolYes, pink eye (conjunctivitis) caused by viruses or bacteria is highly contagious, especially among children. Kids with infectious pink eye generally remain contagious as long as they are experiencing symptoms.Read the guide →
- Head Lice in Kids: How They Spread, Symptoms, and Treatment OptionsWondering how kids get head lice? Head lice are tiny insects that live on the human scalp and are primarily spread through direct head-to-head contact. Understanding their transmission, symptoms, and effective treatment is key to managing an infestation.Read the guide →
- Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Contagious? What Parents Need to KnowYes, hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is highly contagious, spreading easily through close contact. Kids typically need to stay home from school or daycare until their fever is gone and they feel well enough to participate in activities.Read the guide →
- Pink Eye Outbreak? What Chicago Parents Need to Know About ConjunctivitisPink eye is spreading in Chicago daycares. Learn the difference between viral and bacterial conjunctivitis and when your child can return to school.Read the guide →
- Fifth Disease: The 'Slapped Cheek' Rash Going Around Chicago SchoolsBright red cheeks aren't always from the cold. Learn about Fifth Disease, a common childhood virus circulating in Chicago schools.Read the guide →
- Head Lice: Your Chicago Parent's Guide to Prevention & TreatmentHead lice can be a common (and itchy!) rite of passage for school-aged children. Don't panic! This guide will walk Chicago parents through everything you need to know about preventing, identifying, and effectively treating head lice, with practical tips and local resources.Read the guide →
- Fifth Disease (Slapped Cheek): What Chicago Parents Should Know About This Common Childhood RashDiscover everything Chicago parents need to know about Fifth Disease, also known as "slapped cheek syndrome." Learn to identify its symptoms, understand when it's contagious, and find out when to seek medical advice for your child.Read the guide →
- Chickenpox vs. Hand, Foot, and Mouth: How to Tell the Difference and What to DoIs that rash chickenpox or hand, foot, and mouth disease? Many parents in Chicago find themselves playing detective when their child develops a tell-tale rash. Learn how to distinguish between these common childhood illnesses, when to seek medical help, and how to keep your family comfortable.Read the guide →
- Pink Eye Panic? What Chicago Parents Need to Know About Conjunctivitis in SchoolsPink eye seems to pop up everywhere, especially in schools and daycares. Learn what causes conjunctivitis, how to spot it, and crucial prevention tips to keep your Chicago family healthy during local outbreaks.Read the guide →
- Understanding Hand, Foot, and Mouth DiseaseEverything parents need to know about this common childhood illness—symptoms, treatment, and when to worry.Read the guide →
When to keep your child home
Decision guides for fever thresholds, school return rules, and sick-day logistics.
- When to Keep Your Child Home From School: A Parent's Sick Day Decision GuideDeciding when to keep your child home from school can be tough, but generally, children should stay home if they have a fever, are vomiting, have diarrhea, or feel too unwell to participate in activities.Read the guide →
- Stop Building Outbreak Factories: A New School Sick PolicyRigid school attendance policies are fuel for outbreaks. It's time to trade punitive rules for proactive, signal-based health management.Read the guide →
- When Should Kids Stay Home from School?Guidelines to help parents make the tough call about keeping sick kids home.Read the guide →
More illness guides
Additional parent-friendly explainers on childhood illnesses.
- Stopping the Spot: Why Your HFM Policy is Failing (and How to Fix It)HFM is surging in daycares across the country. Here is why the '24-hour fever rule' isn't enough and how schools can use proactive signaling to prevent classroom shutdowns.Read the guide →
- Ear Infection in Kids: Symptoms, Duration, and Contagion GuideEar infections are common in kids, especially toddlers, causing pain and discomfort but usually not directly contagious. They generally last a few days to a week with proper care.Read the guide →
- Summer Camp Illness: What Actually Spreads, What to Pack, and How FSA Dollars Can HelpThe realistic parent guide to summer camp illness (strep, GI bugs, hand-foot-mouth, swimmer's ear), a practical pack list, average cost by camp type, and how dependent care FSA dollars apply.Read the guide →
- Beating the Surge: How Urgent Cares Can Prep for 'Icky' SeasonUrgent cares are about to get hit with the seasonal surge. Here is how to use patient data to triage faster and protect your margins.Read the guide →
- Why Child Illness is Your Company’s Biggest Hidden CostChildhood illness is a major driver of workplace productivity Loss. Here is how employers can proactively support parents this flu season.Read the guide →
- Contamination OCD in Kids: A Parent's Guide to the Fear of GermsWhat contamination OCD looks like in children, why it is surging after years of germ vigilance, and how Ickly helps parents tell a real bug going around from an anxiety spiral.Read the guide →
- HMPV: Understanding the 'Mystery' Virus Parents Should Know AboutOften mistaken for a cold or RSV, Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common respiratory virus. Learn the symptoms and how to protect your child.Read the guide →
- Updated Vaccine Schedules vs. AAP Recommendations: What the Science Says for Chicago ParentsNavigating vaccine schedules can feel overwhelming, but understanding the science behind the recommendations from trusted organizations like the CDC and AAP is key to protecting your child. This article breaks down current guidelines, addresses common concerns, and empowers Chicago parents with accurate information.Read the guide →
- Measles Outbreaks in the US: What Chicago Parents Need to KnowMeasles, once nearly eradicated, is seeing a resurgence in parts of the US. As parents in Chicago, understanding the signs, symptoms, and crucial role of vaccination is vital to protect your family and community. Learn how to stay informed and safe from this highly contagious disease.Read the guide →
- Ringworm in Kids: Not a Worm at AllDiscover the facts about ringworm in children – a common and easily treatable fungal infection. Learn to identify symptoms, understand how it spreads, and get practical advice on prevention and treatment to protect your family in Chicago.Read the guide →
- Adenovirus: Understanding and Preventing This Common Childhood InfectionAdenovirus is a common group of viruses that can cause a wide range of illnesses in children, from colds to stomach bugs. Learn what symptoms to watch for, when to seek medical help, and practical tips to protect your family in Chicago from this prevalent infection.Read the guide →
- Ear Infections in Chicago Kids: Why Winter Is Prime TimeEar infections spike during cold and flu season. Learn how to recognize the signs and when your child needs to see the doctor.Read the guide →
- COVID-19 in Chicago Kids: What Parents Should Know This WinterCOVID-19 cases are ticking up in Chicago. Here's the current situation and guidance for keeping your children healthy.Read the guide →
- What to Do When Your Daycare Reports an OutbreakA practical guide for parents navigating illness notifications from schools and childcare centers.Read the guide →
Common questions from parents
- How do I know if it's a cold, the flu, or RSV?
- All three are respiratory viruses with overlapping symptoms. Colds come on gradually with a runny nose and mild cough. The flu hits suddenly with fever, body aches, and fatigue. RSV often starts like a cold but can progress to wheezing, especially in babies. A pediatrician can confirm RSV or flu with a rapid test.
- Is it strep throat or just a viral sore throat?
- Strep throat typically comes with fever, swollen tonsils, and no cough. A viral sore throat usually comes with a runny nose, cough, and hoarseness. The only way to know for sure is a strep test at the pediatrician. Strep needs antibiotics, a virus does not.
- How long is my child contagious?
- It depends on the illness. Colds and flu are contagious a day or two before symptoms and for several days after. Strep is contagious until your child has been on antibiotics for at least 12 to 24 hours. Each guide below has the specifics for that illness.
- When can my child go back to school or daycare?
- The general rule is 24 hours fever-free without medication, no vomiting or diarrhea for at least 24 hours, and for strep or pink eye, at least a day on treatment. Some schools have stricter policies, so check yours too.
- How can I see what's actually going around my school?
- Ickly tracks parent-reported symptoms at schools and daycares near you. Follow your child's school or watch your ZIP code to get a heads-up before illness hits your household.
Get a heads-up before it hits your house
Guides tell you what to look for. Ickly tells you what is actually spreading at your kid's school this week. Follow your school to get local alerts as parents log symptoms.