GUIDELINES FOR YOUR CHILD DURING FLU SEASON

Things to Remember:

*Hand washing is the best defense against the spread of disease.

*Teach your child how to wash their hands properly and encourage frequent hand washing. *Encourage your child to cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing to help prevent the spread of germs.

Sore throat:

*A sore throat is a minor problem that may be eased by pain relievers.  If accompanied by a fever, difficulty swallowing, or swollen lymph nodes this may be a  sign of a more serious illness, if symptoms persist you should contact your healthcare provider.

Vomiting and diarrhea:

*Your child needs to stay at home if either of these occur during the night.  Even if your child feels better in the morning, it is very likely that these symptoms will return later in the day.  They may also feel tired due to loss of sleep and may still be contagious.

Fever:

*Students need to be fever free for 24 hours, (without Tylenol or Motrin) before returning to school.  A fever is considered a temperature of 100.0 or above.  Students returning before they are well are more susceptible to illness and may spread illness by exposing others.

Any questions or concerns may be addressed to your child’s school nurse or call my office at 815-285-8614

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sue Bennett RN

District Health Coordinator