[Mjhsteam] Letter from MSD School nurse regarding illness

[Kleinert, Dale]

Moscow School District 281

650 N. Cleveland, Moscow, ID 83843                     (208) 882-1120
fax (208) 883-4440                    www.msd281.org 

  


Dr. Candis R. Donicht, Superintendent
Kevin McDonough, Director of Special Services/Human Resources 

Debora Adair, Business Manager
Dr. Cindy Bechinski, Director of Curriculum

 

September 15, 2009

Update on the H1N1 Flu Virus in our School Community

 

To the Parents and Guardians of Children in Moscow School District 281:

 

As of today, September 15, 2009, we are seeing moderate flu like
activity in our local community thus affecting our schools.  As I wrote
in my first mailing, we ask you as a parent to take charge of your child
when it comes to him/her being sick.  If your child is suffering from
flu illness they need to stay home.  The classic symptoms that I have
been seeing are high fever, headache, severe body aches, and some
respiratory symptoms such as sore throat, congestion, cough, and stuffy
nose.  Although nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are seen less frequently
with this illness, it can be present secondary to a high fever.

 

In my observation the past week and a half these are some of my
concerns.  Children are coming to school with fevers.  Children and
staff are coming back to school too soon and rebounding back in to
illness.  This is not a short lived illness.  It is not unusual for a
child/adult to miss a full week of school/work and still it taking
another week to feel back to normal.  I understand the strain of missing
work, missing school, and the stress that goes along with that, but we
must get completely well before we return to our normal activities.  You
must be free of a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever
reducing medications.

 

I have seen a terrific effort by all Moscow School District staff to
combat germs as best as we can.  Thank you to the many of you who have
sent Kleenex, and other items to help keep the spread of the virus at a
minimum.

 

When taking care of yourself, your sick child, or other family member,
please remember the importance of keeping hydrated.  With a high fever,
dehydration is the number one concern.  Other than the importance of
hydration, comfort, and observation for secondary infection (strep
throat, bronchitis, pneumonia), time and patience are the best medicine.
Usually what we see with the typical flu scenario is aches, headache,
followed by fever.  Often sore throat and/or cough come next.  The fever
can last up to a week, with it going up and down throughout the day.  It
is not uncommon for there to be no fever through the morning hours but
as the day goes on into afternoon and evening there is often a spike in
temperature is seen.  Rebound has also been common with this illness.
There might be a couple days of fever and aches followed by feeling much
better.  You think you are ready to return to normal activity and you
are down again.  This is why I stress the importance of letting the
virus run its course before resuming normal activity.

 

As far as going to the doctor, this is my recommendation.  If you go to
the doctor with early symptoms there is not a lot they can do for you.
There is the use of antivirals that have the best results in the first
two days of illness, but this is something that I recommend you discuss
with your doctor before hand.  Antivirals are not given to everyone that
is seen and suspects that they have the flu.  High risk individuals and
individuals with immuno-suppression will be at the top of the list. If
after four to five days of symptoms along with a sore throat or cough
that is not resolving, a doctors appointment might be necessary.  This
is a decision that is totally up to each parent or guardian and must be
made according to each person's comfort level.  Of course, if there is
ever any severe respiratory distress I recommend medical care
immediately.

 

The latest information I have about vaccine is as follows.  The annual
flu shot is now available at many locations.  Please check with your
personal care provider with any concerns or questions you might have.
The H1N1 vaccine is still in the production process.  The latest news
from Center for Disease Control is it will be available between the
beginning and mid-part of October.  Please continue to get the most
up-to-date information from the Web site www.cdc.gov
<http://www.cdc.gov/>  or the Moscow School District Web site 
www.msd281.org <http://www.msd281.org/> .

 

I again stress the importance of staying home if you are sick!  This is
our number one combatant against spreading this virus.  Please work with
us to make this school year not only healthy but successful for all.

 

Thank you,

Beth Papineau, RN

Moscow School District Nurse

208-310-3212

 

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