Cold and Flu Season is Here
Published February 7, 2008
Article written by Jorja Trocino, nurse coordinator
Cold and flu season is here. Flu and colds are typically viruses that spread from person to person through the nose or throat. Flu symptoms include high fever, cough, chills, sore throat, headache and/or muscle aches. Cold symptoms are generally less severe and are limited to nasal drainage, cough, watery eyes and/or low grade temperature.
Please keep your child home if they have any signs and symptoms of illness. When determining whether your child should go to school, please keep in mind the following guidelines:
If you think that your child might have a fever, please check his/her temperature before sending him/her to school. Your child should not be sent to school until he/she has been fever free without medication for at least 24 hours. Thanks for your help in keeping our children healthy!
Symptom | Child Should Not be at School or in Contact with Other Children: | If Child Feels Well Enough, He/She May Attend School: |
|---|---|---|
Runny Nose | Cloudy or yellow/green discharge with congestion, fever | Clear drainage as with allergies |
Cough | Frequent or uncontrollable, producing mucous or accompanied by fever | Infrequent, no mucous being coughed up and/or child has been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours before returning to school, no fever |
Fever | If temperature is above 100 or symptoms of headache or cough accompanying any elevated temperature | If temperature is below 100 and there are no other symptoms They must be fever-free without medication for 24 hours |
Diarrhea or Vomiting | More than one occurrence; allow 24 hours after last incident before sending child back to school | Single incident and no other symptoms (i.e. fever) |
Strep Throat or Scarlet Fever | Sore throat, headache, nausea, fever (children do not always have fever or complain of a sore throat) The only way to rule out Strep is with a throat culture | After 24 hours on antibiotics and fever-free for 24 hours |
"Pink Eye" (Conjunctivitis) | Eye is red, burning or itching; crusty; white or yellow drainage is occuring | Bacterial conjunctivitis: after 24 hours on antibiotics Viral conjunctivitis: with a note from the Dr. stating no longer contagious |
Rash | Any child with an unknown rash will be dismissed for medical evaluation | Rash free or with written permission from physician |
Chickenpox | Itching pink/red spots with blister-type center, fever | Lesions crusted over and dry, no fever |
Head Lice | Nits or lice present | Nit-free, nurse has checked and permits student to go to class |
If you think that your child might have a fever, please check his/her temperature before sending him/her to school. Your child should not be sent to school until he/she has been fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours. Thanks for your help in keeping our children healthy!
What can you do to prevent or minimize your exposure:
- Hand washing is the number one defense against flu, colds, viruses and bacteria. Remember to wash before eating, after using the restroom, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. Using warm water or a hand sanitizer with 60 percent to 90 percent alcohol base is a good alternative when hand washing is not available.
- Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces such as door knobs, refrigerator handles, water faucets.
- Cough into a tissue or the bend of your elbow and not your hand.
- Avoid contact with infected people or items.
- Do not share things that go into the mouth such as food, drinking cups.
- Rest. Make sure you that are getting an adequate amount of rest each night.
- Drink lots of fluids and eat a healthy diet.
- Do not smoke around children.
- Stay at home if you have a fever or any symptoms of the flu.
- Take your child to your pediatrician or emergency room if they have labored breathing, bluish color, not drinking enough, irritable, not easy to arouse, or any symptoms become worse.
- Consult your doctor with any concerns or questions.
Staff members work hard to keep schools clean and provide a healthy environment for students to learn. School nurses attempt to send home any students that may possibly transmit an illness. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school nurse at your child’s school.