Illness

Cold and flu season is upon us and the schools are already seeing an increase in many contagious illnesses. We would like to take this opportunity to remind families of some important steps that can be taken to limit the spread of illness within our schools. As always, our staff will work with the students to limit the spread of germs within the school by encouraging the following:

• Frequent and diligent hand washing

• Avoiding touching of eyes, nose, and mouth

• Covering coughs and sneezes with the inside of the elbow

• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick

Students exhibiting any signs of illness will be referred to the health office for evaluation. 

We additionally ask families to help us limit the spread of illness by adhering to the following guidelines:

Children with one (or more) of the following symptoms are highly encouraged to stay home until  symptom-free for 24 hours:

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

***Students with fevers (100 degrees or higher) cannot return to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication to reduce fever.***

• If prescribed antibiotics, children who are fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication and symptoms have improved, may return to school .  

• Students who are diagnosed with strep, who are fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication,  may return 12  hours after appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

• Children diagnosed with skin infections may return 24 hours after appropriate antimicrobial therapy, as long as they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication.

• NOTE:  Children diagnosed with skin infections may return in less than 24 hours after antibiotics started but must be able to keep the lesions covered and be fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication..

As a precaution, please consider keeping your child home for:

• Excessive stuffy nose or nasal drainage

• Excessive or persistent cough

• Lethargy or general malaise

• Low-grade fever

• Nausea

If your child exhibits Covid symptoms, please consider testing the child.  If the student tests positive, please keep them at home, you may reach out to your school nurse to determine isolation protocol.  

Symptoms of Covid include:

• Fever (100.0 Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• New loss of taste or smell

• Muscles aches or body aches

• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as a chronic cough)

• Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms

• Nausea, vomiting, when in combination with other symptoms

• Headache, when in combination with other symptoms

• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms

• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known cause, such as allergies), when in combination with other symptoms

Thank you for partnering with us to create the healthiest possible environment for our students. Please reach out to your School Nurse with any questions or concerns.                                          

Reviewed and Revised 8/22/23 with Longmeadow Public Schools Physician