With the start of fall, we will soon be seeing respiratory illnesses in addition to the fall allergies we are seeing already. This often happens when we are spending more time indoors with one another and celebrating holidays. Some common viral illnesses expected are Influenza and COVID-19.
Influenza, often referred to as “the flu”, is not the same illness as the “stomach flu”. Influenza is a viral respiratory infection that may present with the following symptoms: chills, body aches, fever, headache, cough, runny or stuffy nose, and sore throat. Once infected with influenza, it may take 1-4 days for symptoms to start and symptoms usually last up to 7 days. Influenza is spread through coughing, sneezing, and touching contaminated hands, objects, or surfaces.
The contagious period includes the first 24 hours before and up to 7 days after the illness begins. Common ways to prevent the spread of influenza include covering your cough, proper hand hygiene, staying home when ill, proper cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, and receiving your annual influenza vaccination. If you think your child has influenza, it is recommended that you notify your childcare provider and/or the school health office. Please keep your child home from childcare and school until 24 hours after fever is gone, without the use of fever reducing medicine and your child is healthy enough for routine activities. If you have concerns with your child's health, it is encouraged to call your healthcare provider.
COVID-19 is another respiratory viral infection that is highly contagious and may present with the following symptoms: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, body aches, fatigue, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, headache, vomiting/diarrhea, or a loss of taste or smell. Once infected with COVID-19, it may take 2 -14 days for symptoms to start, while some people remain asymptomatic. COVID-19 is commonly spread when in close contact with an infected person through speaking, singing, coughing and sneezing. Cases with no symptoms are still able to spread the virus to others. The contagious period includes 2 days prior to and 10 days after the onset of symptoms. For those who test positive for the illness, yet do not have symptoms, the contagious period goes from the date of the positive COVID test. Common ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include monitoring for symptoms, staying home when ill, testing for COVID, wearing a well fitting mask, covering your nose/mouth when coughing or sneezing, proper hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, and completing your COVID-19 vaccine series and receiving the booster when eligible. If you think your child has COVID-19, it is recommended that you notify your childcare provider and/or the school health office.
For COVID-19, please keep your child home from childcare and school until all of the following guidelines have been met. Your child has 24 hours of improvement of symptoms, and has been fever free for 24 hours without the use of a fever reducing medication. Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were. If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again until, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your symptoms are improving overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days. If you have concerns with your child's health, it is encouraged to call your healthcare provider.
No matter what possible illness your child has, it is our policy for your child to meet the following criteria before returning to school with an illness. If they have a fever, a temperature over 100.0 degrees. They need to be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication before they return to school. If they have had an episode of vomiting or diarrhea. They need to be free of vomiting and episodes of diarrhea for 24 hours before they return to school. If they have an open sore that is draining - it needs to be covered. If they have a rash, for which the cause is unknown. Influenza-like Illnesses (respiratory illnesses such as Influenza, COVID, RSV, etc.) must be reported to the health office as they are illnesses that require state reporting.
Now is a good time to get yourself and your child vaccinated against Influenza-like Illnesses. You can do this by contacting your healthcare provider, or your pharmacy. Additionally, we will be hosting a Flu Clinic in the near future, so watch for additional information about getting vaccinated on that date.
Have a healthy and safe fall!
In health,
Desirée Haupert
MCC Health Services Coordinator