Sprague School
Strep A Outbreak
Dear Parents/Guardians,
An outbreak of group A streptococcal (strep) infections has been reported at Laura B. Sprague School, Lincolnshire, IL. Several cases of group A strep infections in various grades have been reported in the past month. The Lake County Health Department is working very closely with the school to further investigate the outbreak and reduce spread of infection.
Group A Streptococcus is a bacterium that is spread when infected persons cough, sneeze, or talk in close proximity. It can also spread by contact with contaminated surfaces and rubbing the eyes, nose or mouth. When exposed, it can take a person 2–5 days for symptoms to appear. Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, sandpaper-like rash, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Tonsils may be swollen, red and painful. The bacterium can cause a variety of different infections (e.g., strep throat, scarlet fever, rash, ear and sinus infections). Some children may become very ill and require hospitalization. If your child has these symptoms, you should consult your health provider as soon as possible.
Health providers may test for strep throat by swabbing the throat and running a test in the office called a “rapid strep test.” They may also send out for a throat culture if the test result is positive. We do encourage throat cultures in situations where a person is reinfected or is hospitalized with severe infection.
After a person tests positive for strep infection, antibiotic treatment should be started. If left untreated, a person could be contagious for 10 days to several weeks or months. It is extremely important to take all medication as prescribed until finished. Children or adults with Group A Strep of the throat or skin infections should not return to school or childcare until well appearing, and at least 24 hours after beginning on appropriate antibiotics AND fever free (without fever reducing medications). Close contact with other children during this time should be avoided. Rarely, persons may become reinfected after treatment.
Prevention measures:
- Have children or staff stay home when ill.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- When washing hands, use soap, rubbing hands together for 20 seconds and rinsing in running water. Alcohol based hand sanitizer is an effective alternative.
- Frequently clean and disinfect highly touched areas.
- Children should be advised not to share eating/drinking utensils or food.
- Clean and disinfect any toys that younger children may put in their mouths.
- Purchase a new toothbrush and use after illness to avoid reinfection.
If you have any questions about Group A strep infections, please contact the Lake County Health Department, Communicable Disease program, Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at 847-377-8130, option 2.
Extra Measures at Sprague
While Sprague daily cleans and sanitizes classrooms and common areas, some additional steps being taken include:
- Increase the school's HVAC system airflow.
- Continue to clean and sanitize hard surfaces in classrooms and common areas.
- Water fountains are being temporarily capped. Students are encouraged to use water bottle filling stations.
- Hand washing is encouraged.
Laura B. Sprague School
Assistant Principal Jennifer Arroyo
Email: ask103@d103.org
Website: www.d103.org/sprague
Location: 2425 Riverwoods Road Lincolnshire, IL 60089
Phone: 847-945-6665
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraBSprague/
Twitter: @district103