Cold and Flu Season
Cold and Flu Season
Cold and flu season is upon us and we are seeing a large number of students with flu symptoms. To prevent widespread flu in the school, we recommend that your child stay home from school if experiencing flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines.
Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms:
Very stuffy or runny nose and/or a cough
Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)
Headache
Mild stomach ache
Chills
General malaise or feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches
Definitely keep your child at home and consider seeking medical attention if he or she has any of these symptoms:
Fever (greater than 100 degrees by mouth. Your child may return to school only after his or her temperature has been consistently below 100 degrees, by mouth, for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications)
Vomiting (even once)
Diarrhea
Frequent congested (wet) or croupy cough
Shortness of breath
Lots of nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose
To help prevent the flu and other colds, please teach your children good hygiene habits:
Wash hands frequently
Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth
Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
The flu shot is one of the best ways to prevent illness from the seasonal influenza virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults and children receive the flu vaccine each year. Yearly flu vaccination is needed because immunity against the flu wears off over time. In addition, the flu virus strains often change, so the vaccine also changes from year-to-year in order to match the flu viruses expected to be circulating in the community. Colds and Flu are the most contagious during the first 48 hours. A child who has a fever should remain at home until “fever free” for a minimum of 24 hours. Often when a child awakens with vague complaints (the way colds and flu begin), it is wise to observe your child at home for an hour or two before deciding whether or not they should attend school. Your child should be physically able to participate in all school activities upon return to school. Keeping a sick child at home will help minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom.
RSV - Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Respiratory syncytial virus (known as RSV) is a common and highly infectious virus. Most children will get RSV at least once before they turn two. RSV infection is a common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small to medium sized airways of the lung). Symptoms of RSV bronchiolitis may last for up to 10 days. Most children will feel sickest three to six days after the first signs of illness.
The main signs and symptoms of RSV include:
runny nose
Cough
fever
sore throat
headache
Children’s symptoms often worsen in the first two to three days of sickness. They may also experience wheezing, difficulty breathing and dehydration.
What causes RSV?
RSV is a virus. The virus can cause inflammation and mucus to build up quickly in children’s airways which can make it hard to breathe and cause lung infections, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
How is RSV diagnosed?
A doctor can diagnose bronchiolitis by examining your child. Tests like a nasal swab may be done to confirm if the bronchiolitis is caused by RSV, but this is not usually required, particularly when there are high rates of RSV in the community. Please notify your school nurse if your child tests positive.
Treatment: Most cases of RSV are mild and can be treated at home with rest. Very young children, children with pre-existing lung diseases or children with severe bronchiolitis may need to go to hospital to get help with their breathing or feeding.
Care at home: Give your child small amounts of their usual fluids to drink regularly – this may help to relieve the build-up of mucous (congestion) and prevent dehydration.
- Work with your health care provider to determine the proper over the counter medication if your child is uncomfortable with a fever (in doses recommended on the bottle).
- Keep your child at home until their symptoms have stopped.
- Wash hands regularly – RSV can easily spread from person to person, regular hand-washing for 20 seconds with soap and water is the best way to stop it spreading to others.
When should I see a doctor?See your local doctor or visit your nearest hospital emergency department if you are concerned about your child’s breathing or feeding.
Call 911 immediately if your child:
- Appears very unwell and lethargic
- Is having severe difficulty breathing
- Is making a ‘grunting’ noise,
- Has blue-coloured lips or skin.
Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal diseases, frequently referred to as meningitis, are often severe and can be deadly. They include infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream infections (bacteremia or septicemia). Adolescents and young adults are at increased risk of these serious diseases. It is important to be aware that the symptoms of meningococcal disease can resemble the flu and may progress quickly to high fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, and a purplish rash. Students with these symptoms should be examined as soon as possible by a healthcare professional. To prevent the serious complications of a meningitis infection, Illinois state law requires 11-year old students receive the meningococcal conjugate vaccine. As with all communicable disease occurrences, the district works closely with the public health departments to ensure the safety of our community.
