If you have the flu, it’s not cool to go to school

My head hurts. (Cough, cough) I feel really hot. (Cough, cough) If these are comments your child is making, don’t be surprised. It is flu season, and the flu is impacting Maricopa schools.

According to District Director of Nursing, Amy Helgren, “Just before Christmas we were sending five to eight kids home each day.” These children were experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, had fevers or all of these symptoms.

“The flu started early, in late November,” explained Helgren, “but we are sending children home every single day because it is more prevalent this year. It goes in spurts.”

Helgren says there are two types of illness, the stomach flu (which is usually of shorter duration) and the real influenza, which lasts longer. Influenza symptoms include a fever, chills, headache and a dry cough. “Symptoms come up very quickly,” Helgren added.

No parent wants his or her child to miss school. Most students want to be there also. However, if the student is experiencing flu symptoms, particularly a fever, that child needs to be at home.

A child with a fever is contagious for several days.

Helgren explained that a person is still contagious up to three to four days after the onset of a fever. “If a child has a fever in the evening or after school, that child should NOT attend classes the next day,” said Helgren. “If a child is ill, he or she is sent to the health office. Then we contact a parent or guardian to pick up that student from school.”

How do you prevent the flu? According to Helgren, there are three main preventatives. The first, of course, is to avoid close contact with someone who is already ill. That is the reason for sending sick children home from school. Secondly, persistent and frequent hand washing is a must. In addition it is important, particularly for young children, not to touch the eyes, ears, nose or mouth, which spreads germs from surfaces and from other children.

If you already have the flu, keep washing your hands. Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. Drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest. A hacking, persistent cough can also be indicative of whooping cough, which is on the rise in Arizona, especially for children ages 11-14. If any symptoms persist or the child becomes dehydrated, see your family physician.