Archive · 20 Aug 2026
La Martiniere Advises Sick Children to Stay Home
La Martiniere for Girls has asked sick children to stay home.
The school is concerned about respiratory infections spreading among students.
Symptoms can include fever, cough, a runny nose, a cold or a sore throat.
Some children have also had diarrhoea or trouble breathing.
Doctors say children with these symptoms could infect classmates.
They say most children feel sick for about five or six days.
In some cases, an infection can lead to a more serious problem called secondary pneumonia.
The school also asked children to wash their hands and cover coughs and sneezes.
The school said the notice is meant to be careful and not to make parents panic.
La Martiniere for Girls asked parents not to send unwell children to school.
The warning covers fever, cough, colds, sore throats and other symptoms.
Doctors have reported more children with fever, runny noses, cough and sometimes respiratory distress.
Doctors said staying home can reduce transmission and help prevent complications such as secondary pneumonia.
Virus testing can cost ₹4,500 to ₹10,000, so doctors do not recommend it for every child.
- Who
- La Martiniere for Girls, its principal Rupkatha Sarkar, doctors and school parents and children.
- What
- The school asked parents to keep children with respiratory symptoms at home and follow hygiene measures.
- When
- The notice was issued on Wednesday; doctors said they had seen a rise in cases in recent days.
- Where
- La Martiniere for Girls and clinics in Calcutta.
- Why
- To reduce the spread of respiratory infections and protect other children.
- School
- La Martiniere for Girls
- Principal
- Rupkatha Sarkar
- Symptoms mentioned
- Fever, cough, cold, sore throat, runny nose, diarrhoea and respiratory distress
- Reported viruses
- Influenza and Covid were among the viruses reported as circulating
- Typical duration
- Doctors said symptoms last five to six days in most cases
- Testing cost
- Virus-detection tests reportedly cost ₹4,500 to ₹10,000
- Recommended precautions
- Stay home when unwell, maintain hand hygiene and follow respiratory etiquette