With cold and flu season upon us please refresh yourself on district policies regarding illness and when your child should stay home.
There are three main reasons to keep sick children at home:
1. The child does not feel well enough to participate comfortably in usual activities, (such as; extreme signs of tiredness, unexplained irritability or persistent crying).
2. The child requires more care than program staff is able to provide, without effecting the health and safety of the other children.
3. The illness is on the list of symptoms or illness for which exclusion is recommended.
Please remember children with the following symptoms or illness should be kept (excluded) from school:
"FLU-LIKE" SYMPTOMS
Fever over 100°F with a cough or sore throat. Other flu symptoms can include fatigue, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea. Please keep student home for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicine
FEVER with behavior changes or illness
When fever is accompanied by behavior changes or other symptoms of illness, such as rash, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, behavior changes, stiff neck, difficulty breathing, etc.
COUGHING
If severe, uncontrolled coughing or wheezing, rapid or difficulty breathing and medical attention is necessary
RASH WITH FEVER
Seek medical advice. Any rash that spreads quickly, has open, weeping wounds and/or is not healing should be evaluated (Note: Body rash without fever or behavior changes usually does not require exclusion from school, seek medical advice)
VOMITING
Two or more episodes of vomiting in the past 24 hrs, exclude until vomiting resolves or a health care provider decides it is not contagious. If the child has a recent head injury observe for
other signs of illness and for dehydration. Note, vomiting with associated fever is covered in the FEVER category above.
STREP THROAT
Exclude for 24 hours after antibiotic treatment and the child is able to participate in usual activities
Mild RESPIRATORY OR COLD SYMPTOMS
Stuffy nose with clear drainage, sneezing, mild cough
Do not exclude - may attend if able to participate in school activities
EXCLUDE if symptoms are severe. This includes fever
accompanied by behavior changes and/or difficulty breathing.
For a complete list of symptoms and illnesses and the full LPS policy please
click here.
Remember, the best way to prevent the spread of infection is through good hand washing!
Maggie Moore,Lenski Health Assistant