WES Parents and Guardians
Cold and Flu Season is upon us!!!
The following are some of the illnesses that are being passed around this fall season.
If your child exhibits any of the symptoms associated with these illnesses, please keep them home from
school for 24 hours and are symptom free.
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Influenza: Influenza, commonly known as "the flu," is a highly contagious viral infection of the
respiratory tract. It affects all age groups, though kids tend to get it more often than adults.
Symptoms, which usually begin about 2 days after exposure to the virus, can include: fever,
chills, headache, muscle aches, dizziness, loss of appetite, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny
nose, nausea or vomiting, weakness, ear pain and diarrhea.
Virus: There are more than 200 types of viruses, including Fifth Disease that we have noticed.
Fifth Disease is a viral infection common in children. At first, a child will have cold symptoms, like
a stuffy or runny nose and a fever. The infection results in a mild red rash on the face, trunk, and
limbs 4-14 days later. In healthy people, fifth disease usually goes away without medical
treatment.
Strep Throat: Symptoms of strep throat, which is very common among kids and teens, include
fever, stomach pain, and red, swollen tonsils. Strep usually requires treatment with antibiotics.
Stomach Flu: Norovirus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines or both. This is called
acute gastroenteritis or often commonly referred to as the ‘stomach flu’. The most common
symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, fever, headache, and body aches.
These symptoms can lead to other bacterial infections and dehydration and should be carefully
monitored.
Lice: Head lice are small insects that live on the human scalp. Contrary to popular
misconception, lice are unrelated to personal hygiene. Please be mindful and check your children
often.
When Should I Keep My Child Home From School?
While frequent absences interfere with continuity of instruction and reduce a student’s ability to maintain
a high level of achievement, there are times when it is necessary to keep your child home from school. If
your child has any of these symptoms: a fever of 100 degrees or higher, vomiting and/or diarrhea, a
severe cold where the child is coughing to excess and cannot keep up with nose blowing, or has a
known contagious infection such as strep throat, please keep them home from school. A good rule of
thumb is to keep your child home for 24 hours of being fever free or 24 hours after antibiotics have been
started if indicated. Frequent hand washing is the best defense against illness. Also, getting enough rest
and eating well balanced meals helps your child fight off infections and illnesses.