[When children and adolescents refuse to go to school--school refusal from the viewpoint of a public health office].

What should happen if children or adolescents refuse school? This may be due to phenomena such as school phobia, fear of school, playing truant, or a learning strike. The article demonstrates how an interdisciplinary team guided by the health authorities handles the problem of school refusal in the multifactorial field of tension of family, school and psychosocial dynamics. The present paper includes an analysis of school-related and sociological causes, a description of the legislative framework, an outline of possible treatments, as well as a discussion on aspects of prevention.