New Jersey Department of Health Guidance Novel Coronavirus

General Health Office Guidelines:

If your child is experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, he or she should not return to school for a minimum of 48 hours after symptoms have subsided. A rule of thumb is to make sure your child is eating and drinking normally.

If a strep/flu culture is obtained, please keep your child home until the results are reported by your doctor.

If a strep culture is positive, your child must be treated with an antibiotic for 24 hours before returning to school.

Students with fever should stay home for a minimum of 24 hours after they no longer have fever without the use of fever reducing medications such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin (Ibuprophen).

Encourage your child to wash hands with soap and water, and cover coughs and sneezes.

Please keep these guidelines in mind when sending your child to school.

Remember, we are trying to keep our whole community healthy during the cold and flu season. Thank you.

All medications must be brought in by a responsible adult and MUST be in the original container and labeled with your childs' name and grade. All OTC medications must also be accompanied by a parent/guardian signed medication form. See tab on the left "medications" for the form.

If your child uses an EpiPen and/or an inhaler, please supply the health office with the needed medications and supporting documentation (click on the Asthma & Allergy page on the navigation bar for specific guidelines and forms).

Please consult with your child's doctor or nurse practitioner with any health concerns.

Hardyston School District

(973) 823-7000

January 29, 2020

Dear Parent or Guardian:

The peak of the cold and flu season is upon us. To minimize widespread flu in the school, we recommend that your child stay home from school if experiencing flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines.

Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms:

• Very stuffy or runny nose and/or a cough
• Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)
• Headache
• Mild stomach ache

Definitely keep your child at home for treatment and observation if he or she has any of these symptoms:

• Fever (greater than 100 degrees by mouth and your child may return to school only after his or her temperature has been consistently below 100 degrees, by mouth, for a minimum of 24 hours, without the aid of a fever reducer)
• Vomiting (even once)
• Diarrhea
• Chills
• General malaise or feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches
• Frequent congested (wet)/ croupy cough
• Lots of nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose

To help prevent the flu and colds, teach your children good hygiene habits:

• Wash hands frequently.
• Do not touch eyes, nose, mouth.
• Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

Colds are the most contagious during the first 48 hours. A child who has a fever should remain at home until “fever free” for a minimum of 24 hours. A child who has started antibiotics needs to be on the medication for 48 hours before considered non-contagious and able to return to school. Often when a child awakens with vague complaints (the way colds and flu begin), it is wise to observe your child at home for an hour or two before deciding whether or not to bring to school. Your child should be physically able to participate in all school activities on return to school. Keeping a sick child at home will help minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom.

Thank you in advance for helping make this year at Hardyston Township Schools as healthy as possible.

Sincerely,

The School Nurses of Hardyston Public Schools

From the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/parvovirusb19/fifth-disease.html

Fifth Disease

On This Page

· Signs & Symptoms

· Complications

· Transmission

· Diagnosis

· Prevention & Treatment

Fifth disease is a mild rash illness caused by parvovirus B19. It is more common in children than adults. A person usually gets sick with fifth disease within 14 days after getting infected with parvovirus B19. This disease, also called erythema infectiosum, got its name because it was fifth in a list of historical classifications of common skin rash illnesses in children.

Signs & Symptoms

The symptoms of fifth disease are usually mild and may include

· fever

· runny nose

· headache

· rash

You can get a rash on your face and body

You may get a red rash on your face called “slapped cheek” rash. This rash is the most recognized feature of fifth disease. It is more common in children than adults.

Some people may get a second rash a few days later on their chest, back, buttocks, or arms and legs. The rash may be itchy, especially on the soles of the feet. It can vary in intensity and usually goes away in seven to 10 days, but it can come and go for several weeks. As it starts to go away, it may look lacy.

You may also have painful or swollen joints

People with fifth disease can also develop pain and swelling in their joints. This is called polyarthropathy syndrome. It is more common in adults, especially women. Some adults with fifth disease may only have painful joints, usually in the hands, feet, or knees, and no other symptoms. The joint pain usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks, but it can last for months or longer. It usually goes away without any long-term problems.

Top of Page

Complications

Fifth disease is usually mild for children and adults who are otherwise healthy. But for some people, parvovirus B19 infection can cause serious health complications, such as chronic anemia that requires medical treatment.

You may be at risk for serious complications from fifth disease if you have a weakened immune system caused by leukemia, cancer, organ transplants, or HIV infection.

Transmission

Parvovirus B19—which causes fifth disease—spreads through respiratory secretions, such as saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus, when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You are most contagious when it seems like you have “just a fever and/or cold” and before you get the rash or joint pain and swelling. After you get the rash you are not likely to be contagious, so it is usually safe for you or your child to go back to work or school.

People with fifth disease who have weakened immune systems may be contagious for a longer amount of time.

Parvovirus B19 can also spread through blood or blood products. A pregnant woman who is infected with parvovirus B19 can pass the virus to her baby.

Once you recover from fifth disease, you develop immunity that generally protects you from parvovirus B19 infection in the future.

Diagnosis

Healthcare providers can often diagnose fifth disease just by seeing “slapped cheek” rash on a patient’s face. They can also do a blood test to determine if you are susceptible or possibly immune to parvovirus B19 infection or if you were recently infected. This is not a routine test but can be performed in special circumstances. The blood test may be particularly helpful for pregnant women who may have been exposed to parvovirus B19 and are suspected to have fifth disease. Any pregnant woman who may have been exposed to parvovirus B19 should contact their obstetrician or healthcare provider as soon as possible.

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Prevention & Treatment

Prevention

There is no vaccine or medicine that can prevent parvovirus B19 infection. You can reduce your chance of being infected or infecting others by

· washing your hands often, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water

· covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze

· not touching your eyes, nose, or mouth

· avoiding close contact with people who are sick

· staying home when you are sick

Once you get the rash, you are probably not contagious. So, it is usually safe for you to go back to work or for your child to return to school or a child care center.

Healthcare providers who are pregnant should know about potential risks to their baby and discuss this with their doctor.

All healthcare providers and patients should follow strict infection control practices to prevent parvovirus B19 from spreading. For information about handwashing, see CDC’s Clean Hands Save Lives!

Treatment

Fifth disease is usually mild and will go away on its own. Children and adults who are otherwise healthy usually recover completely. Treatment usually involves relieving symptoms, such as fever, itching, and joint pain and swelling.

People who have complications from fifth disease should see their healthcare provider for medical treatment.

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