Should I keep my child home or send him or her to school?

School policy (and state public health guidelines) requires a child stay home if he or she:

• Has a fever of 100.0 degrees or higher
• Has been vomiting or has diarrhea
• Has symptoms that keep him or her from participating in school, such as:
• Very tired or lack of appetite
• Cough that he or she cannot control, sneezing often
• Headache, body aches, or earache
• Sore Throat—a minor sore throat is ok for school, but a severe sore throat could be strep throat, even if there is no fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache and stomach upset, or rash. Call your doctor if your child has these symptoms.

Keep your child home until his or her fever has been gone for 24 hours without medicine.

Keep you child home until 24 hours after last vomiting or diarrhea episode.

Children with pink eye only need to stay home until on medication for 24 hours.

Prevention Of Illness

• CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• Maintain healthy sleep habits and include highly nutritious foods in your diet to boost your body’s own immunity.

If you are calling your child in sick, please inform Mrs. Johnson or myself of the reason for the absence so that rates of infection can be monitored. This information will be kept confidential. Wishing you the best in health during this season of contagion! Feel free to call me with any questions or concerns at708-524-3089.

Nurse Jamie

Washington Irving School Nurse