Common Health Conditions and Symptoms CHICKEN POX Slight fever, general feeling of illness, rash resembling water blister appearing after 3 to 4 days. Scabs appear later. 2-3 weeks Direct contact with infected persons 1. Exclude from school until blisters are dry and crusted. 2. It is also contagious 5 days before blisters appear. 3. DO NOT give Aspirin. COLD SORES (Herpes Simplex) Watery blisters usually on lips but may occur anywhere on skin or mouth. Maybe confused with Impetigo. 2-12 days Direct contact with infected persons May attend school; will usually heal within two weeks COMMON COLD Symptoms include watery eyes, sneezing, running nose, general feeling of illness. 12 hrs to 3 days Virus spread directly through droplets from coughing. sneezing or speaking; indirectly through articles freshly soiled by discharges of infected person 1. Recommend that child remain at home for first 1 to 2 days of cold or longer if symptoms are severe. 2. Communicable for 24 hours before and for 5 days after nasal discharge. 3. DO NOT give aspirin. Common Health Conditions and Symptoms 1
CONJUNCTIVITIS (Pink eye) Redness of conjunctiva (white of eye). May or may not have drainage. Eye irritation. 24 to 72 hrs Most are caused by virus; some bacterial. May be spread through hand-eye contact. 1. Refer for medical diagnosis and treatment. 2. Communicability depends on cause. 3. Keep home if eyes are uncomfortable. FIFTH DISEASE Intense red rash which begins on cheeks and spreads to arms, body, buttocks and legs. May have a lowgrade fever or sore throat. Rash has a fine lacey, pink appearance. 4-14 Days Virus is spread by touching secretions of infected person and then touching eyes, nose or mouth or by breathing in airborne droplets of the virus. Extremely small chance of anemia for fetus or miscarriage if a pregnant woman is exposed to Fifth's Disease. No longer infectious once the rash appears; may attend school if student feels well H1N1 (Swine) Flu Conditions Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people have also reported diarrhea and vomiting. 5-7 days The virus is spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. 1. Exclude from school for at least seven days. If like symptoms persist beyond the seven-day period, the student/staff member will need to remain at home for 24 hours after the resolution of all symptoms. 2. If a student/staff member begins to feel better prior to the seven-day period, written confirmation from a medical doctor that states the student/staff member is negative for the flu will be required before returning to school. It is important that the student/staff member be free of fever for 24 hours, without the assistance of fever-reducing medications before returning to class. 3. Students/staff members that have recently returned from Mexico or an area with known H1N1 (swine) flu cases will be observed and closely monitored for respiratory symptoms and fever. If symptoms develop within seven days of their return, they will be sent home and referred to their health care provider. Common Health Conditions and Symptoms 2
INFLUENZA (Flu) Chills, body ache, headache, fever, sore throat, followed by cough, runny nose and possibly stomachache. 24 to 72 hrs Virus spread directly through coughing, sneezing and contact with nose or throat discharges. May be spread through the air. 1. Exclude from school if child has a fever of 100 F or higher; they must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication before returning to school. 2. DO NOT give aspirin. IMPETIGO Blisters or fluid filled sacs covered with honey colored crusts. May be confused with cold sores. 1 to 6 days occasionally longer Bacteria spread by direct contact with persons or with articles freshly soiled with discharges from nose or throat of patient; may also be spread through the air usually caused by Group A Beta Streptococcus. 1. Exclude from school until treated with antibiotics for 24 hours MONONUCLEOSIS Fever, sore throat, tiredness and swollen glands, especially on back of the neck. Sometimes there is a rash. Often children have no symptoms at all. 4-6 weeks Exchange of fluids with infected persons Unsure how long it is contagious. The virus may be shed for many months after infection. Carriers with no symptoms are common. Exclude until the child is well enough to return to normal activities. Notify School Nurse. Common Health Conditions and Symptoms 3
PERTUSSIS (Whooping Cough) Runny nose, sneezing, slight fever, and a mild cough. After a week or two, a persistent cough develops and occurs in explosive bursts, sometimes ending with a high-pitched whoop and vomiting. Coughing attacks continue 4-6 weeks and are more common at night. 6-20 days; usually 7-10 days Spread directly through coughing, sneezing or speaking Contagious during cold-like symptoms, before persistent, explosive coughing develops and until 5 days of treatment. If untreated may be contagious for 3 weeks. Exclude until after 5 days of appropriate antibiotic therapy begins. Notify School Nurse. REYE'S SYNDROM Child has recently been ill with viral infection (cold, flu, chickenpox). STAGE 1: Persistent or continuous vomiting; Signs of brain dysfunction, including listlessness, loss of pep and energy, drowsiness STAGE 2: Personality changes, including irritability, aggressive behavior, disorientation, confusion, irrational behavior, delirium, convulsions 1 to 7 days following viral infection (cold, flu, chickenpox) Usually follows viral infection. It is not contagious. Cause unknown. No prevention. Requires immediate attention at onset of symptoms. Most common in children. 1. If one or more symptoms appears, call physician immediately. 2. Go to emergency room of hospital. 3. DO NOT give aspirin or aspirin substitutes. 4. Exclude from school until clinically well. RINGWORM Ring-shaped or irregular skin patch with raised pimple-like or scaly borders. May show central clearing. May become inflamed and crusted. 1 to 3 weeks Contact with human or animal infected with fungus or its spores, and by contact with contaminated articles. 1. Exclude from school until treated for 24 hours with medicated ointment. Keep area covered. Common Health Conditions and Symptoms 4
SCABIES Raised red skin possibly blisters or pustules or scabs. Intense itching - most severe at night. Common sites are hands, arms, at or above wristline, thighs. 1 to 2 months Mite transferred by direct contact with an infected person, and to a limited extent, undergarments or soiled sheets freshly contaminated by an infected person. 1. Exclude from school until written verification of treatment. 2. Communicable until treated. 3. Family should be examined. 4. House should be thoroughly cleaned. SHINGLES Severe pain and numbness along nerve pathways, often on the face or mid-line area of the trunk. Ten to fourteen days later clusters of blisters appear in crops, usually on one side of the body and closer together than chickenpox. None Most are caused by virus; some bacterial. May be spread through hand-eye contact. Contagious until one week after the blisters appear. Exclude until sores can be covered or have crusted over. Notify School Nurse. STREP THROAT Fever, sore throat, headache, nausea, vomiting. (If associated with rash it is called Scarlet Fever.) 1 to 3 days Bacteria spread directly from nose and throat discharges of infected persons. 1. If diagnosed by doctor as strep, exclude from school until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment is started and until clinically well. 2. Communicable until 24 hours after treatment is started. Common Health Conditions and Symptoms 5