He Flu Away From School

Please pardon the silly title for this post, but I just missed lunch.

Seriously, I want to pass on a note from Mrs. Butler, our nurse:

The timing of flu is very unpredictable and can vary from season to season. Flu activity most commonly peaks in January and February however, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May. The following is a check list provided by the Department of Public Health for families and schools.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
Flu Symptom Check List for Families and Schools
The symptoms of influenza (flu) include fever, cough, sore throat, and sometimes body aches,
headache, chills and feeling tired. Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting. The most
important thing that you can do to keep flu from spreading in the community is to keep your sick
child at home.
Use the following check list to help decide if you or someone in your family may have the flu:
~Yes~ ~No~Does your child have a cough?
~Yes~ ~No~Does your child have a sore throat?
~Yes~ ~No~Does your child have a headache, body aches or chills?
~Yes~ ~No~Does your child have vomiting or diarrhea?
~Yes~ ~No Does your child have a fever of 100 degrees or more?
For more information about how to take a temperature, there is a “Fever Fact
Sheet” at http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/cdc/flu/fever-factsheet.pdf

SHOULD I KEEP MY CHILD HOME?
If you checked yes to
•~fever of 100 degrees or more
and
•~cough or sore throat
your child has an influenza-like illness.~Keep your child home until they are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications .

If you checked “yes” to only one of the questions above, or if your child is ill with other
symptoms, keep your child at home at least one day to observe for other symptoms. If other
symptoms develop, use the check list questions again to decide whether to continue keep the child
home. Send your child back to school after he or she has been completely well for 24 hours.

When should my child go to the doctor?
Call your doctor or seek medical care if your child has trouble breathing, has behavior changes
like increased restlessness, anxiety and irritability, or isn’t drinking enough fluids. Be alert for
skin rashes, dehydration or any other signs that your child is more uncomfortable than you would
expect with the flu.

For much more information about caring for people with flu-like illness at home,
please see the 33-page “Flu What You Can Do: Caring for People at Home”
booklets which are posted on the MDPH website, or can be ordered by calling
617-983-6800. The booklets are available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese,
Haitian Creole, Spanish and Portuguese.
For more information and on-going updates:
Massachusetts Department of Public Health information line: 211
Massachusetts Department of Public Health influenza website:

Also, the State tracks weekly influenza contraction (is that the proper use of the word?). Here is the most recent:
http://publichealth.blog.state.ma.us/h1n1-swine-flu/