Untreated, ear infections can lead to more serious complications, including mastoiditis (a rare inflammation of a bone adjacent to the ear), hearing loss, perforation of the eardrum, meningitis, facial nerve paralysis, and possibly -- in adults -- Meniere's disease.
DHEC publishes the School and Childcare Exclusion List each year. The Exclusion List explains how long an ill child, student, school employee, or childcare employee should stay out of school or childcare, and what is needed before the child/student or employee is permitted to return.
Section 9.0 of the Rules and Regulations for School Health (2009) requires each student receive a vision screening at a minimum upon school entry and in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, and 9th grades. Statute 16-21-14 requires a hearing screening test be administered upon initial entry into school.