We feel strongly that good attendance is extremely important to your child’s success at school. They must be here to learn! Early in the morning it is often difficult to make a decision about whether or not your child is sick enough to stay home from school. With minor symptoms, you often cannot tell whether they are going to get better or worse during the course of the day.
The main reasons for keeping your child home are:
- if they are too sick to be comfortable at school or participate in educational activities
- if they may spread a contagious disease to other children
As a rule of thumb, a child should stay home if there is:
- Fever of 100 degrees before giving any Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Frequent or persistent cough
- Persistent pain (ear, stomach, head, etc.)
- Widespread rash
Most of these problems need to be discussed with your child’s pediatrician to determine if an office visit is indicated.
The following guidelines may help in your decision process:
• Runny nose - is the way many children respond to pollen, dust, or a cold virus. Minor cold or allergy symptoms should not be a reason to miss school. A child should stay home if they are too uncomfortable to complete their work and participate in school activities. Children do not do well when their noses are running non-stop. This is especially true with the younger Pre-K and kindergarten students. Many of the younger children simply do not understand the need to not wipe their noses with the back of their hand and then go touch their friends. Also, consistent, thick green nasal discharge is a symptom that should be addressed by your child’s physician before they come to school.
• Coughing – especially if it is persistent during the day, can indicate a worsening of cold or allergy symptoms. It may be a sign of a secondary infection (sinusitis, bronchitis), which may require medical treatment. It may also indicate mild asthma. If your child’s cough is worse than you might expect with a common cold, you need to consult your child’s doctor. You should do so immediately if the child is not acting normal, has a fever, or has any difficulty breathing or is wheezing. A child with a persistent hacking cough that significantly affects the child’s ability to talk or function should be kept home. A child with a cough like this is uncomfortable and it is usually quite disruptive for the teacher and other children in the classroom.
• Diarrhea and vomiting – Children who are experiencing these symptoms should be kept at home. It could be very uncomfortable and embarrassing for your child to have another episode while at school. A child should be symptom free for 24 hours and able to hold down fluids and food before returning to school.
• Fever – per school district policy, a child is considered to have a fever if the fever is 100 degrees or higher. This is an important symptom – especially when it occurs along with a sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash. Your child could have a contagious illness, which could be passed to classmates and teachers. While you can treat the fever, and usually make the child feel better temporarily, the cause of the fever (and the risk of passing it to others) is still there. Children with a fever over 100 degree should stay home until there is no fever for 24 hours without taking Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, etc. If you give your child these medications for a fever in the morning, the medication will wear off 3-5 hours later and the child will be in the clinic and we will be calling you to pick up your child.
• Sore throat – consult your child’s pediatrician for advice regarding diagnosis and treatment. A child should stay home if they are running a temperature, or if they are too uncomfortable to complete their work and participate in school activities. If your child has been diagnosed with strep throat, they may not return until 24-48 hours after the first dose of antibiotic was given and fever free for 24 hours.
• Pinkeye or Conjunctivitis – can be caused by a virus, bacteria or allergy. The first two are very contagious. The eye will be reddened and slightly swollen or puffy. The eye may water and be sensitive to light. There is usually a cloudy or yellowish discharge present and the eye is usually crusted or matted in the morning when the child awakens. Consult with your child’s doctor to see if antibiotic eye drops are needed. Again, the child should stay home until the symptoms subside and they have been on antibiotic eye drops at least 24 hours or until the Dr. says they may return to school.
• Flu – is a highly contagious virus that usually occurs in the winter months. Symptoms have a rapid onset and include: body aches, high fever, chills, congestion, sore throat, and in some children, vomiting. Consult your child’s pediatrician for diagnosis and comfort measures. The child should stay home until these symptoms improve which is usually 5-7 days.
• Skin infections – can be staph or strep infection that creates a red, oozing blister – like area that can appear anywhere on the body. It can be passed to others by direct contact. Consult your child’s pediatrician for diagnosis, treatment, and length of time the child should remain out of school, especially if the area cannot be covered.
REMEMBER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCHOOL KNOWS HOW TO REACH YOU DURING THE DAY AND THAT THERE IS A BACK UP PLAN AND PHONE NUMBER ON FILE IF YOU CANNOT BE REACHED. IF YOU CHANGE YOUR HOME OR CELL PHONE NUMBERS DURING THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, PLEASE BE SURE AND NOTIFY THE SCHOOL IN CASE THERE IS AN EMERGENCY OR A NEED TO REACH A PARENT DURING THE SCHOOL DAY!!!!
Medication
Please refer to pages 19-20 of the Student Handbook for all medication guidelines.
• All medications must be kept in the school clinic
• The medication CANNOT be brought to school by your child. It must be brought to the clinic by a parent, guardian or another adult.
• All medication must be in the original container.
• All medication must be age appropriate.
• All medication must be accompanied by a permission note from the student’s parent or guardian. The date, dose, time and duration that the medication should be given must be included. Any medication, whether it is prescription or over the counter, that is given over 10 days must be accompanied by a Dr.’s note.
• We DO NOT have any medication in the clinic unless it is brought from home. The clinic uses only rest, heat, cold, Vaseline, calamine or caladryl lotion, hand lotion, disinfectant soap, antiseptic, hydrogen peroxide, salt water and aloe vera for the care of our students.
• All prescription medication that you bring for a student must be correctly labeled for that student.
• Inhalers or medication for a nebulizer must be labeled with the student’s name and directions for usage. If the inhaler or nebulizer is given over 10 days, it must be accompanied by a Dr.’s note. We do have a nebulizer in the clinic, but parents will need to bring the medication, face or mouth mask and tubing for their child.
• Medication prescribed “three times a day” can be given before and after school and at bedtime.
• Remember, if the Dr. changes your child’s daily medication during the school year, or the dosage or time to be administered the clinic must be given a new Dr.’s order.
• Any medication that is sent to school with the child with no note will not be given and will be kept in the clinic until a parent or guardian picks the medication up.
Physical Education Excuses
A parent or guardian may write a PE/recess restriction or excuse for ONE week. A Dr.’s note is necessary for a longer excuse. When you take your child to the Dr’s office or emergency room or clinic, they must specify WHEN PE activity can resume. If the PE excuse states no PE “until further notice”, your child will not be allowed to resume PE/recess activities until a note is sent from the Dr. stating activities may be resumed.
Immunizations
Please refer to pages 7-9 of the Student Handbook.
Texas state law requires proof of current immunizations for students to BEGIN and REMAIN in school.
Students may not attend school if these immunization requirements are not met.
Please be sure and send copies of all immunizations that are given to your child to the school clinic so immunization records can be updated.
Please call us if you would like the names and addresses of local clinics that provide immunizations for a small or reduced fee. We also have a list of the Spring ISD schools where the immunization vans will be over the next few months.
For more information, contact the Texas State Department of Health Services at their website at: www.immunizetexas.com
Head Lice
Head Lice (Pediculosis Capitis) are highly communicable and difficult to prevent. This is often a frustrating problem to deal with, but the following information should help you understand, identify and treat head lice safely and thoroughly.
Description: The head louse is a bloodsucking parasitic insect whose primary host is man (lice do not breed on dogs or cats). It inhabits the head and scalp, preferring the area behind the ears and at the nape of the neck where the hair is denser. They will move freely over the hair and scalp. The insect is small but visible to the naked eye (1-2 mm long) and varies in color from pale silvery color to dark reddish brown, depending on the stage of their life, the host’s color of hair and how recently it has fed. Lice cling to the hair shafts with hook like claws.
During the reproductive phase of her month-long life cycle, a female louse will deposit about 3-5eggs (nits) each day, and lays between 50-150 eggs during her normal 30 day life span. Nits are tiny grayish-white oval egg cases, which are firmly attached to a hair shaft by a cement-like substance secreted as the egg is deposited. These eggs generally
hatch in 7-10 days and will be capable of reproducing themselves in 2 weeks.
How Do You Get Lice: Many people associate lice with unclean people or homes. This is NOT true in the case of head lice. Frequent bathing or shampooing will not prevent lice nor eliminate them once they are established. Lice cannot jump or fly, and are usually transmitted by contact with infested persons or by wearing infested clothing, or by using an infested comb or brush. Children should be warned against sharing hats, clothing, hair bows or scrunchies, grooming aids or towels. Lice have been thought to survive 2-3 days off the human host under optimum conditions.
Symptoms of Infestation: Since lice themselves are fast moving and difficult to spot, diagnosis is more often made on the basis of finding nits. In addition, small red bite sites may be found on the scalp, especially in the area behind the ears and down the back of the neck. Lice are small insects about the size of a sesame seed. They are usually light brown in color, but as stated above this color may vary. They move quite quickly and will shy away from the light when the hair is separated. Nits are the whitish silver or dark colored specks that attach to the hair shaft and cannot be brushed or flaked off. If you run your fingers down the hair shaft, you will actually feel a small bump on the hair shaft that does not move. The itching that occurs when lice bite and suck blood from the scalp is a primary symptom of infestation. Children seen scratching their heads frequently should be examined at once.
Treatment of the Individual: Before one family member is treated, all should be examined. Those showing evidence of infestation should all be treated at the same time. Treating an individual for head lice is a two-step process involving the use of a pediculicidal product and a combing tool manufactured for the purpose of nit removal.
1. Remove child’s shirt and provide a towel to cover the eyes. Do not treat in the bathtub or shower, but rather have the child lean over the sink as this confines the lice product to the head and neck. Use one of the lice remedies available at your pharmacy. Some are available by prescription and some are over the counter. All of these products must be used very carefully, following directions precisely and observing all safety guidelines. BE SURE AND READ ALL PACKAGE INFORMATION BEFORE USING ANY PRODUCT. Consult your obstetrician if you are pregnant or nursing before treating yourself or others. Consult your physician before treating anyone with extensive cuts or scratches on their head or neck.
2. Although it can take time and be very tedious and difficult, you must remove all nits to insure complete treatment. Any louse product DOES NOT kill all the nits and survivors will hatch into crawling lice within 7-10 days generating a cycle of self-reinfestation. Even dead nits will cling to the hair and cause uncertainty about reinfestation. Nit removal can be accomplished with a special comb manufactured for this purpose or by picking them with your fingernails (this seems to work best). Nit combing is best accomplished with hair that is dry or slightly damp. Following nit removal be sure the child puts on clean clothing.
A daily nit check is imperative for at least 2 weeks following treatment and then checking should become part of routine home hygiene. Be sure you retreat in 7-10 days so that you are able to take care of any newly hatched lice.
Treatment of the Environment: Household de-infestation should be carried out at the same time as the child’s hair treatment. Head lice do not survive long if they fall off a person and cannot feed. Routine cleaning measures are recommended and should include:
• Launder all recently used clothing, towels and bedding material in HOT water (at least 130 degrees F) and then tumble in a HOT dryer for at least 20 minutes. Allow time for water to heat between wash loads. Dry 20 minutes in dryer or press with a HOT iron.
• Dry clean clothing and bedding that is not washable or place in sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks and then in HOT dryer for at least 20 minutes after removing from plastic bag. This also needs to be done with any blankets, afghans, pillows stuffed animals, dolls or toys if they cannot be washed. Don’t forget the child’s backpack and any coats or jackets.
• Thoroughly vacuum all carpets, mattresses, furniture and car interiors. The risk of getting re-infested from a louse that has fallen onto a carpet or sofa is small, but places where the infested person usually sits or lays needs to be cleaned and vacuumed. The use of insecticide sprays is not recommended, as it may be harmful to family members and pets and is of questionable benefit.
• Soak combs and brushes for at least one hour in rubbing alcohol, Lysol, or boil in hot water – or replace combs and brushes. Boil, wash or replace all hair ribbons, bows, headbands etc. If unable to boil or wash, you can seal them in a baggie and place in a freezer for 48 hours.
All treatment of child, family and environment should be done the same day!
For your child to return to school, they must be brought to school by a parent or guardian and checked by the nurse before they can return to class. We will continue to check them a few times a week until we are certain no further nits or lice are seen.
We do school wide head checks at least once a month at Smith. We have found that by doing head checks on a regular basis we have been able to control widespread outbreaks among students.
We are here to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have between 7:30AM and 3:30PM Monday –Friday. You may reach us directly at 281-891-8429. Our goal is to be sure every child is as healthy as possible so they can do their very best while at school. Please call if we can be of service.
