WHEN SICKNESS STRIKES:
by Debbie DeVoe (From KDHE)
Q. Should I keep my child home from school if he or she has cold
or flu symptoms? Is your advice different for cold versus the
flu?
A: If your child has flu symptoms, you should keep him or her home
from school. If your child has a cold, the decision to keep him or
her home may depend on the severity of symptoms. A good rule of
thumb is to keep your child home if he or she has a fever of 100
degrees or higher.
WHEN SICKNESS STRIKES:
Know When to Keep a Child Home From School
A parent’s decision to keep a child home from school when he or she
is sick can sometimes be a difficult one. No parent wants to
interrupt their child’s learning, and for some, keeping a child
home means missing work or losing pay. However, if he or she has a
serious illness such as influenza, it’s important for the child to
stay home from school. By taking this step, parents can help their
children get better faster as well as prevent the spread of illness
to others. Following are some frequently-asked questions and
answers to aid parents in decision making this flu season.
It’s also important to know the difference between cold and flu.
Flu is a serious illness, and children who have the flu should
always stay home from school. Flu symptoms include fever, along
with chills, cough, sore throat, headache or muscle aches. Many
people describe it “like being hit by a truck.” It is a good idea
to contact the child’s doctor if he or she has these symptoms.
Symptoms of a common cold include stuffy nose, sneezing, sore
throat and hacking cough. Often, cold symptoms come on gradually.
Although the common cold is usually not serious, if the
symptoms
are severe, it’s a good idea to keep your child home to rest and
get better.
Q: If my child does have the flu or a bad cold, how long should I
keep him or her home from school?
A: Parents should keep their sick children home from school until
they have been without fever (temperature under 100 degrees) for 24
hours, to prevent spreading illness to others. Flu is spread from
person to person through coughing and sneezing. Occasionally,
people can get the flu from touching a germ-infested surface.
Children are one of the biggest sources of flu spread.
Q: Should I call the doctor if I think my child has the flu?
A: If a child experiences flu symptoms, parents should contact
their child’s doctor quickly. Some children may benefit from an
antiviral medication, which can be prescribed by a doctor and can
help lessen the number of days that a child is sick with the virus.
To be effective, antiviral medication should be taken within 12-48
hours after flu symptoms begin.
Q: What should I do to help prevent the rest of the household from
getting sick?
A: Teach and practice healthy habits. Wash your hands often with
soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds to help prevent germs
from spreading. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, because
the virus can spread when your hands touch surfaces that are
infested with germs. Also, consider contacting your doctor if
someone in your household gets the flu. A doctor can prescribe
antiviral medication that can actually prevent other members of the
household from catching the virus. It’s also important to know the
difference between cold and flu. Flu is a serious illness, and
children who have the flu should always stay home from school. Flu
symptoms include fever, along with chills, cough, sore throat,
headache or muscle aches. Many people describe it “like being hit
by a truck.” It is a good idea to contact the child’s doctor if he
or she has these symptoms. Symptoms of a common cold include stuffy
nose, sneezing, sore throat and hacking cough. Often, cold symptoms
come on gradually. Although the common cold is usually not serious,
if the symptoms
are severe, it’s a good idea to keep your child home to rest and
get better.
