Winter Newsletter
From the USD 466 Health room
COVID is still a thing, but don't forget that Flu Season is Here!
The peak season for flu (Both type A and type B) in the school and the community is upon us. The CDC recommends a 3-step approach for prevention and treatment:
1. Get a Flu Vaccine-It’s not too late!
2. Stop the spread: wash hands often; avoid touching eyes, nose & mouth; clean frequently touched items; cover coughs & sneezes. Masks may also help decrease the spread of flu as well as COVID.
3. Take antiviral medications if prescribed by your doctor.
**Students diagnosed or suspected to have the flu should stay home for 5 days after the onset of symptoms, must be fever free for a FULL 24-hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication), and be able to fully participate in school activities before returning to school.
Please, notify the school if you child has been diagnosed with the flu.
**YEAR-LONG COMMON HEALTH CONCERNS**
** Strep Throat
Strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection and is more common in children than adults. As with other illnesses, prevention involves hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes. Symptoms may include sore throat and fever. Testing at a doctor’s office is needed to diagnose and treatment involves antibiotics.
**Students should not return to school until 24 hours after starting antibiotics and being fever-free.
** Head Lice
Head lice are a common annoyance and can occur year-round. They do not cause illness and do not jump or fly. Lice are primarily spread through direct head-to-head contact, and less commonly through shared personal items. Lice medicines kill live lice; your doctor can make suggestions for specific products. Home remedies and holistic treatments have not been shown to be effective. Children should be taught to avoid sharing items such as hats, combs, brushes, scarves and pillows.
**Students will be sent home from school for treatment of live bugs. Parents will be notified of presence of nits (or eggs) but may be allowed to finish the school day if no live bugs are present. In both cases treatment and combing of nits must be initiated as directed prior to return to school. It is also imperative that treatment/cleaning of your home, bedding, and exposed clothing, etc... be completed to prevent re-infestation
** Stomach “Bugs”
Often caused by norovirus, stomach “flu” or “bug” is highly contagious. Prevention includes frequent hand washing and cleaning contaminated surfaces and laundry.
**Students must remain home for a minimum of 24 hours after vomiting, diarrhea and/or fever stops. They should be able to tolerate normal meals before returning to school.
Niki Depperschmidt, RN
Email: ndepperschmidt@usd466.org
Website: www.usd466.com
Location: Scott City Middle School, 809 West 9th Street, Scott City, KS, USA
Phone: 620-872-7640
Twitter: @Usd466Nurse
**Notices**
Mass notices will NOT routinely sent home when isolated cases of common health concerns occur. Parents/Guardians will only be notified if YOUR child is affected or presents with these symptoms on a case by case basis. Parents should remain alert for common health concerns throughout the school year.