Health Room Information
MCPS School Health Services Website
Nurse's Note:
When the flu and cold season upon us, it is often a good idea to remind ourselves that kids need a lot of sleep to grow and stay healthy (often more than they think they do), so it is up to us as adults to keep to a consistent sleep schedule. Kids need 9-10 hours of sleep in elementary school and 8-9 hours of sleep in middle and high school. Getting enough sleep will drastically reduce the likelihood of getting sick during this season. Keeping kids home when they are sick is also very important in reducing the spread of illness, as is washing hands and coughing/sneezing into your sleeve. Remember the 24 hour rule for antibiotics - kids must stay home until they have been on an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school. I have attached a great flyer about Antibiotic resistance and overuse as it is the CDC's national antibiotic resistance awareness week
http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/week/downloads/antibiotics-arent-always-the-answer-for-parents.pdf
And another handy item:
Cold vs. Flu Comparison Chart
|
Symptoms |
Cold |
Flu |
|
Fever |
Rare |
Usually Present |
|
Aches |
Slight |
Usual, Often Severe |
|
Chills |
Uncommon |
Fairly Common |
|
Tiredness |
Mild |
Moderate to Severe |
|
Sudden Symptoms |
Symptoms appear gradually |
Symptoms can appear within 3-6 hours |
|
Coughing |
Hacking, productive cough |
Dry, unproductive cough |
|
Sneezing |
Common |
Uncommon |
|
Stuffy Nose |
Common |
Uncommon |
|
Sore throat |
Common |
Uncommon |
|
Chest Discomfort |
Mild to moderate |
Often severe |
|
Headache |
Uncommon |
Common |