This is the time of year when many students in our community become ill with influenza, also called the “flu.” The flu is not just a bad cold. Although symptoms may be similar to colds and other respiratory illnesses, flu can make people very ill. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, severe muscle or body aches, headache, and fatigue. Children may also have nausea and vomiting with the flu. Often, when school-age children become ill, they bring home the virus to other family members.
Here are some ways you and your children can help prevent the spread of the flu:
- Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds; use alcohol-based sanitizer if no water is available
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with those who are sick
- Stay home if sick
- Cover cough or sneeze with tissue, throw tissue in trash, wash hands
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched object and surfaces
Even if your child has the flu vaccine, if your child has symptoms of the flu, it is important to seek medical attention for your child. A child with influenza should not attend school until at least 24 hours after the fever ends or your healthcare provider indicates that the child is no longer contagious to others.
You can learn more about the flu and how to prevent it by going to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Flu website.