There are times when your adolescent may need to miss school due to illness. These guidelines may help you decide if your adolescent should stay home.  Examples include, but are not limited to chicken pox, mononucleosis, scabies, hepatitis, meningitis, and ringworm.

Good Health Habits for Prevention

The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent the flu.

Avoid close contact- with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

Stay home when you are sick- If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

Cover your mouth and nose- with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

Clean your hands-Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth-Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Practice other good health habits-Get plenty of sleep, exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

The Flu. A Guide for Parents.

What is the flu?

The flu (influenza) is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs that is caused by influenza virus. The flu can spread from person to person. Most people with flu are sick for about a week, but then feel better. However, some people (especially young children, pregnant women, older people, and people with chronic health problems) can get very sick and some can die.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

Most people with the flu feel tired and have fever, headache, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and sore muscles. Some people, especially children, may also have stomach problems and diarrhea. Cough can last two or more weeks.

How does the flu spread?

People that have the flu usually cough, sneeze, and have a runny nose. This makes droplets with virus in them. Other people can get the flu by breathing in these
droplets or getting them in their nose or mouth.

How long can a sick person spread the flu to others?

Most healthy adults may be able to spread the flu from 1 day before getting sick to up to 5 days after getting sick. This can be longer in children and in people who don’t fight disease as well (people with weakened immune systems).

How can I protect my child from the flu?

A flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu. CDC recommends that all children from the ages of 6 months up to their 5th birthday get a flu vaccine every fall or winter (children getting a vaccine for the first time need two doses).

              •Flu shots can be given to children 6 months and older.

              •A nasal-spray vaccine can be given to healthy children 2 years and older

(children under 5 years old who have had wheezing in the past year or any child with chronic health problems should get the flu shot).

You can protect your child by getting a flu vaccine for yourself too. Also encourage your child’s close contacts to get a flu vaccine. This is very important if your child is younger than 5 or has a chronic health problem like asthma (breathing disease) or diabetes (high blood sugar levels).

Is there medicine to treat the flu?

_There are antiviral drugs for children 1 year and older that can make your child feel better, be less contagious, and get better sooner. But these drugs need to be approved by a doctor. They should be started during the first 2 days that your child is sick for them to work. Your doctor can discuss with you if these drugs are right for your child.

What Can YOU Do?

How else can I protect my child against flu?

1. Take time to get a flu vaccine and get your child vaccinated too.