Student Health

Chicken Pox (Varicella)

Definition: 

A disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes shingles. People who have never had chickenpox or received the chickenpox vaccine can get chickenpox from people with chickenpox or shingles.

Symptoms:

• Rash appears 10-21 days after exposure.
• An itchy rash that turns into fluid filled blisters. 
• Rash may first show up on the face, chest, and back and may spread to the inside the mouth, eyelids, or genital area.
• Body aches, headache, fever, runny nose, cough 

Return to School:

• Contact healthcare provider regarding treatment options.
• Once your child has developed scabs on all their blisters, generally happens 5-7 days after the appearance of first blisters. 
• 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine, he/she may return to school.  

Note: Fight the fever and aches with aspirin substitutes such as Tylenol.  

DO NOT USE ASPIRIN because of the possible risk of Reye’s Syndrome.

Prevention:

Good handwashing and avoid contact with others with chickenpox. Cover coughs and sneezes. Receive immunization for the virus

Croup

Definition: 

Croup is a manifestation of upper airway obstruction resulting from swelling of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi, leading to inspiratory stridor and a barking cough. 

Symptoms:

• Loud, harsh, barking cough, most commonly at night.
• Stridor (high pitched noise breathing),
• Common to have fever, runny/stuffy nose.

Return to school: 

Please see a healthcare provider for treatment options.

Your child needs to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of 

fever reducing medications, and their symptoms need to be greatly improved – such 

as their cough and other respiratory symptoms.

Prevention:

Good handwashing and avoid contact with others with chickenpox. Cover coughs and sneezes.

COVID-19 / Coronavirus

Definition:

COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel much like a cold, the flu, or pneumonia. COVID-19 may attack more than your lungs and respiratory system. Other parts of your body may also be affected by the disease. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill.

Symptoms: 

•  Fever, chills and sweats, headache.
•  Fatigue, body aches and pains. 
• Cough, runny nose, congestion. 
• Loss of appetite, sore throat, loss of taste and/or smell, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea. 

Return to School:

Please see a healthcare provider for treatment options.

Your child needs to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of 

fever reducing medications, and their respiratory symptoms need to be greatly improved – such as their cough.

Prevention:

Hand hygiene and maintaining a good physical distance between yourself and others that have a respiratory virus can help lower the risk of spreading.

Fifth’s Disease

Definition:

Fifth Disease is a viral illness caused by the human parvovirus B19. It is a common viral infection in children. This condition is not caused by the same parvovirus that can affect dogs or cats.

Symptoms:

• Similar to cold symptoms: mild fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting or diarrhea. 
•  Red “slapped cheek” rash appears 4-14 days after these symptoms develop. 
• This characteristic rash is followed by a lace-like rash on the trunk, arms, bottom, and legs. Rash may disappear and reappear for weeks, usually after exposure to heat.
• When a rash appears, the individual usually does not feel ill and is no longer contagious. 

Return to School:

Please see a healthcare provider for treatment options.
Your child needs to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of 
fever reducing medications.

Pregnant women exposed to fifth disease are at great risk. If exposed and pregnant please contact healthcare provider

Prevention:

Cover nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing. 
Dispose of used tissues.
Frequent and thorough handwashing is important.  
Avoid sharing eating utensils or straws.

Hand Foot & Mouth

Definition:

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a highly contagious illness characterized by a rash and sores that can appear. It is caused by the Coxsackie virus. The infection usually begins in the throat. It most commonly affects young children but can also occur in teenagers and adults.

Symptoms:

The infection can be contracted and contagious 3-7 days before any symptoms appear. 

• Fever (usually the first symptom)
• Painful, red blister-like lesions on the tongue, mouth, palms of the hands or soles of the feet (usually develops 1-2 days after fever)
• Painful red rash around and in the mouth, and/or the palms, hands, fingers, arms, feet, trunk, and back (usually develops 1-2 days later), sore throat, headache, fatigue, irritability in infants and toddlers. 

Return to School:

Please see a healthcare provider for treatment options.

Your child needs to be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine.

Sore and rash free for 24 hours (mouth, hands, arms – any visible skin), and have only mild symptoms that are improving. If they are fever, rash, and sore free but have symptoms such as a severe cough, they need to continue staying home until it has greatly improved.

Prevention:

Thorough and frequent handwashing.
Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth. 
Cover coughs and sneezes to prevent spread of respiratory secretions. 
Sanitize contaminated surfaces. 
Contact with infected stool may spread the virus. Use thorough hand washing after toileting.

H1N1 / Swine Flu

Definition:

The swine flu is a respiratory infection caused by a specific influenza A virus strain. 

Symptoms:

• Fever, chills and sweats, headache.
•  Cough, sore throat.
• Fatigue and weakness, body aches.
•  Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Return to School:

Please see a healthcare provider for treatment options.

Your child needs to be fever and cough free for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, along with improvement of overall symptoms before being approved to return to school.

Prevention:

Thorough and frequent handwashing.
Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth. 
Cover coughs and sneezes to prevent spread of respiratory secretions. 
Sanitize contaminated surfaces.

Impetigo

Definition:

 Impetigo a bacterial skin infection that develops red sores that can break open, ooze fluid then form a yellow-brown crust.

Symptoms:

• Red sores that quickly rupture, ooze for a few days and then form a yellowish-brown crust.
• Can present as itchy, painless fluid-filled blisters or painful fluid- or pus-filled sores that turn into deep ulcers.

Return to School:

• Contact healthcare provider regarding treatment options.
• Individuals may return to school 24 hours after topical antibiotics have been started and once scabs are on all their blisters.
• 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine, he/she may return to school.  

Prevention:

Cover lesions/sores loosely to allow for protection and airflow during healing. 
Avoid touching affected areas. 
Clean all cuts and scratches well. 
Keep fingernails clean and short. 
Do not share towels, bedding, or bath water with others. 
Launder contaminated items daily. 
Disinfect surfaces. 

Influenza A/B

Definition:

Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

Influenza is not a stomach illness.

Symptoms:

• Sudden onset of fever. 
• Chills, Headache, Fatigue, Muscle aches & pains. 
• Sore throat, Nasal congestion, Cough
• Nausea/Vomiting 

Return to School:

Your child needs to remain home for the first 24 hours after diagnosis, they need to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.  Overall improvement of symptoms before being approved to return to school.

Prevention:

The most effective way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine. 
Good handwashing. 
Teach your child to cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow, and then wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.

Lice

Definition: 

-Head Lice is a parasitic insect that can be found on the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes of people. 

-Head lice have three forms: the egg (also called a nit), the nymph, and the adult. 

-Lice infestations are primarily spread by close person-to-person contact. Lice move by crawling and are spread by direct contact with the HAIR of an infected person. Lice cannot hop, jump, or fly. 

-Dogs, cats, or other pets do not play a role in the transmission of human lice. 

-A common myth is that schools are a common location for lice transmission. As schools rarely provide an opportunity for close head-to-head contact, except for young children in preschool or kindergarten, it is extremely rare to see transmission at school. Lice is more commonly spread during sleepovers or when students share combs, brushes, hats, scarves, sweatshirts with hoodies with an infected individual.

Symptoms:

• Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair. 
•  Itching, caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of the head louse. 
• Irritability and difficulty sleeping; head lice are most active in the dark. 
• Sores on the head caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes become infected with bacteria found on the person’s skin. 

Return to School:

Your child may return to school AFTER they have been treated, all the lice have been killed, all the eggs or nits have been removed AND there is no sign of re-infestation. Please continue to recheck your child for lice for seven days. 

Prevention:

Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities. 
Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes. 
Do not share combs, brushes, or towels. 
Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets, or stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with an infected person.

Mononucleosis

Definition:

Mononucleosis, commonly known as mono, is a disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). 

Symptoms:

• May take 30-50 days to develop symptoms after exposure to a person with mono.
• Symptoms can last a few days to a few months. 
• Young children may develop no symptoms or very mild symptoms. 
• Though rare, a teenager’s mono can be more serious. 
• Fever, Sore throat, Extreme fatigue (can persist for weeks or months), Head and body aches.
• Swollen lymph nodes in neck and armpits. 
• Enlarged liver and/or spleen.
•  Rash may occur in those treated with antibiotics. 

*** Mono can cause secondary infections: strep throat, sinus infection, or tonsillitis. 

Rare, serious complications could be ruptured spleen or liver infection***

Return to School:

Please seek out healthcare provider in aid of treatment options.

 Your child needs to remain home for the first 24 hours after diagnosis, they need to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, and rash free for 24 hours, along with improvement of overall symptoms before being approved to return to school.

Prevention:

Mono is spread in saliva. The best way to prevent mono is by frequent handwashing, and by covering coughs and sneezes. A person known to have mono should not kiss others on the mouth, donate blood or share food, drinks or eating utensils.

Norovirus / Stomach Flu

Definition:

Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea.

It is sometimes called the “stomach bug.” Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach or intestines.

Symptoms:

• Fever, chills and sweats,  fatigue and weakness. 

• Headache, dry cough, wet cough, muscular aches and pains.
• Stomach cramps, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Return to School:

Your child needs to remain home for the first 24 hours after diagnosis, they need to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, and vomit and diarrhea free for 24 hours, along with improvement of overall symptoms before being approved to return to school.

Prevention:

Good hand hygiene and avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.

Pertussis / Whooping Cough

Definition:

Pertussis is a respiratory illness caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The disease is only found in humans. It causes a whooping sound when inhaling.

Symptoms:

•  Fever, mild or occasional coughing, and runny nose.

• Whooping cough symptoms worsen after the first or second week, and commonly include: prolonged, repeated or violent coughing episodes that can last 10+ weeks, a whooping sound upon inhalation after the coughing ceases, vomiting, and exhaustion. 

Return to School:

If your child is diagnosed with Pertussis, treatment includes a round of antibiotics. Your child needs to remain home for 5 full days once they have started antibiotics, and needs to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, and their symptoms need to be greatly improved – such as their cough and other respiratory symptoms.

Prevention:

The most effective way to prevent Pertussis is by getting the Dtap vaccine.
Hand hygiene. Encourage covering mouth when coughing.

Pink Eye / Conjunctivitis

Definition:

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an inflammation of the delicate membrane (conjunctiva)

that lines the inside of the eyelid and the surface of the eye. Pink eye may be caused by

bacteria, viruses, allergies, pollution, or other irritants. Conjunctivitis most often occurs with colds, sore throats, or upper respiratory infections.

Symptoms:  

BOTH bacterial and viral – red or pink in the whites of one or both eyes, blurry vision, sensitivity to light, irritation, gritty feeling, swelling.

Bacterial: usually accompanied by yellow/green discharge (often forms a crust). 

Viral: usually accompanied by clear watery tearing.

Return to school: 

• For viral or allergic conjunctivitis your student may return to school following good hand hygiene and the absence of any discharge from eyes. 
• For bacterial conjunctivitis please contact your healthcare provider. Your student may return to school 24 hours after administration of antibiotic eye drops. 

Prevention:

Good hand hygiene and avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.

Ringworm

Definition:

Ringworm is a fungal infection which can affect the skin, scalp, or feet. 

Symptoms:

• circle of rash on your skin that’s red and inflamed around the edge and healthy looking in the middle, slightly raised expanding rings of red, scaly skin on your trunk or face, and round flat patches of itchy skin. 
• Ringworm affects your arms, legs, trunk and face.
• Treatment can include prescription medication from your doctor. 

If excessive redness, swelling, drainage or fever occurs, see your doctor immediately.

Return to School:

Your child needs to remain home for a full 48 hours after starting prescription treatment, along with improvement of overall symptoms before being approved to return to school. Cover affected areas when possible.

Prevention:

Ringworm is spread by contact with a contagious person or animal, or from contaminated items such as combs, brushes, towels, clothing, or bedding. 

Wash your hands often. 

Cover affected areas. 

Do not share hairbrushes, combs, or hair accessories. 

Treatment of infection.

Strep Throat & Scarlet Fever

Definition:

Strep throat is a disease caused by group A. Streptococcus bacteria. 

Scarlet fever is a fine, red rash that makes the skin feel like sandpaper. The rash is usually prominent in the armpit and groin areas. It is caused by a toxin produced by a strep infection. Children who have scarlet fever are generally not any sicker than children with strep throat who do not have the rash.

Symptoms: 

• Sore throat (early symptom) 
• Pain with swallowing 
• Fever, headache
•  Red, swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus. 
• Tiny red spots on roof of the mouth.
•  Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck. 

The most frequent cause of sore throat in children is a viral infection, not strep throat. The only way to be certain of a strep throat diagnosis is by getting a throat culture or rapid strep test by a healthcare provider. 

Return to school: 

If your child is diagnosed with strep, treatment includes a round of antibiotics.

 Your child needs to remain home for a full 24 hours once they have started antibiotics, they also need to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, and vomit free for 24 hours, along with improvement of overall symptoms before being approved to return to school. 

They cannot return before having taken antibiotics for a FULL 24 hours.

Prevention:

Good handwashing and not sharing personal items. Cover coughs and sneezes.