QPS Health Services
Family Newsletter Spring Edition
SPRING/SEASONAL ALLERGIES
For those who suffer from seasonal allergies - trees, plants and grass pollination can cause symptoms that are often confused with viruses. Primary symptoms of allergies can be sneezing, fatigue and itchy eyes. Additional symptoms can be congestion, cough, headache and sore throat. Allergies generally present as symptoms that come and go or persisting mild symptoms that do not show a sign of resolving. The most common treatments can be found over the counter. If your child suffers from seasonal allergies please talk to your pediatrician about effective medications to alleviate symptoms. The school does not have allergy medication available in the nurse’s office.
Eye Allergies vs. Pinkeye
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, eye allergies are a reaction to indoor and outdoor allergens that get into your eyes. Examples of these are pollen, mold spores, dust mites and pet dander. Eye allergies are not contagious. They cannot be spread to another person.
Pink eye is something different. It is a viral or bacterial infection of the eye tissue. It’s called infectious conjunctivitis. It usually starts in one eye and can spread easily to the other eye within a day or two. This eye condition is easily transmitted from person to person.
Is It a Cold or Is It Allergies?
Practice Good Hand Washing
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- If your child is sick, (fever, vomiting, or diarrhea) keep your child home for at least 24 hours AFTER illness is gone. Fever should be gone without the use of fever reducing medicines.
Respiratory Virus Guidance Update
When you may have a respiratory virus...
Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory virus symptoms that aren't better explained by another cause. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others.*
- You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
- Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
- When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.
- Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were.
- If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again until, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your symptoms are improving overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.
*Please see the attached graphic for reference.