Sick/Absent FAQ: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- When should parents keep a child not feeling well home?
- What are symptoms of the flu?
- What causes the flu virus?
When should parents keep a child not feeling well home?
With so much flu and strep and such around this time of year, parents may
have trouble making that judgement call about whether to keep a child at
home who is not feeling well. It is a tough call to make at times when
everybody is just beginning their day and getting prepared to get out the
door to jobs or school. Parents are generally the best judge of their child
and whether he/she is different from normal, but sometimes emotional issues
or lack of time make it hard to decide what is "real" illness.
In general, these symptoms warrant keeping a child at home for the day:
1) Fever of 100 or more - Stay home for 24 hours after fever is gone and
encourage fluids.
2) Vomiting or diarrhea - Stay home 24 hours after last episode and
encourage fluids.
3) Sore throat - Note that strep throat may be present without a fever, and
may have symptoms of headache and stomachache.
4) Runny nose, cough - Often a day or two of rest, light diet with extra
fluids and less dairy products will help resolve a cold, and will be a help
in minimizing the spread of cold virus at school. A child who is feeling run
down, losing sleep due to their cold, or actively sneezing and coughing is
not going to be able to attend to learning.
5) Earaches - If these last more than a day or if pain is severe, please see
your health provider.
6) Impetigo or other skin rash - Please have these identified and treated
for 24 hours before returning to school. Consult with the school nurse with
any questions.
7) "Pinkeye" or conjunctivitis - A draining, itchy eye that is red must be
treated with antibiotic eye medicine before child returns to school.
It is helpful to school staff to have information via a note or phone call
if your child is "on the borderline" of not feeling well or is just healing
from an illness or injury, and if we know how to reach you that day. Also, a
child who has not had a good night's sleep or who has had an emotional upset
may perform poorly at school or complain of not feeling well. If staff are
aware, they can make adjustments in your child's day or offer extra support.
Preventative health care is very important. In its simplest form, it entails
your child/children getting
an appropriate amount of sleep. Scheduled rest periods during the day, a
diet low in fat and sugar (especially a full breakfast), daily exercise, an
environment that is physically and emotionally safe and a relationship with
an adult(s) based on quality time and honest human interaction.
What are symptoms of the flu?
Think You Have the Flu? What Are Flu Symptoms? Know the FACTS
Fever
Aches
Chills
Tiredness
Sudden symptoms
FluFACTS Information
Flu symptoms can be mild or severe — and if they’re mild can become severe
without much notice. Be aware of your body and monitor your body temperature.
Flu symptoms can come on suddenly — be sure you know your treatment and
prevention options so you can be prepared.
The common symptoms of the flu include:
* Fever (usually high)
* Headache
* Muscle aches
* Chills
* Extreme tiredness
* Dry cough
* Runny nose may also occur but is more common in children than adults
* Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, may also occur
but are more common in children than adults
You don’t need to experience all of these symptoms to have the flu. If you
have one or two, it's recommended that you see your doctor. We've prepared a
list of helpful questions to ask your doctor to help you make the most of your
visit.
What causes the flu virus?
Three types of influenza viruses exist. Types A and B cause epidemics of
severe respiratory illnesses known as “the flu,” and type C causes a mild
illness, not associated with epidemics. Type A is divided into different
subtypes based on the chemical structure of the virus. Type B is not divided
into subtypes. Both type A and type B are responsible for the seasonal
outbreaks of flu.
* Outbreaks occur more frequently in the winter months. Many factors may
play a role in this seasonal pattern:
o The virus survives for longer periods indoors in winter because
the relative humidity of indoor air is very low, in comparison to the outside air.
o The virus may stay suspended in the air for prolonged periods and
thus infect others by being inhaled. The virus droplets can also infect by
landing on sensitive body areas such as the eyes, nose, or mouth.
o In winter, humans tend to be indoors more and thus have closer
contact with each other, which makes it easier for the virus to spread.
* Flu outbreaks are classified as epidemics (occurring in a set
geographical area) or pandemics (a worldwide occurrence).
* Influenza is a highly contagious disease. The virus is spread when you
either inhale infected droplets in the air (spread when an infected person
coughs or sneezes) or when you come in direct contact with an infected
person’s secretions (for example, by kissing, sharing of handkerchiefs and
other items, and through use of objects such as spoons and forks). Touching
smooth surfaces, such as doorknobs, handles, and telephones, are other ways to
transfer the virus to your hands, which may then contact the nose or mouth
where the virus gets absorbed.
o A person with flu is contagious for up to 7 days after the onset
of the illness, although the virus can be detected in the secretions up to 24
hours before the onset of symptoms. Thus, an individual can transmit the virus
one day before symptoms begin.
o In young children, the virus can still be spread in the secretions
into the second week of illness.
WebMD Medical Reference from eMedicineHealth
Reviewed on August 10, 2005