When Your Child is Sick

For your child to return to school they need to:

• Be free of fever (less than 100 degrees F) for at least 24 hours without use of medication.
• Have no vomiting for 24 hours after last occurrence, without use of medication, and the child is able to hold down fluids and food.
• Have no diarrhea for 24 hours after last occurrence, without use of medication.
• If diagnosed with pink eye or strep throat, the child must remain at home for 24 hours after treatment begins.
• Unidentified rashes should be seen by a doctor and determined to be non- contagious before returning to school.

Reporting an Absence

When calling school to report your child’s absence, please communicate the following information:

• Does your child have a flu-like illness defined as fever (100 degrees F or higher) and a cough and/or sore throat in the absence of a known cause other than the flu?
• If your child does not have flu-like symptoms, please communicate the symptoms that your child is experiencing.
• If your child has a contagious disease, such as strep, pink eye, pneumonia, etc. please state so when leaving the message. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation!

Health Requirements

• 2019-20 Health Requirements Information
• 2018-19 Health Requirements Information
• 2018-19 Health Requirements Information - Spanish
• Childhood Immunizations: CDC Information for Parents
• Required Immunizations: DuPage Health Department Resources for Parents
• Required Immunizations for School: Illinois State Law

Allergy and Asthma Information

• Allergy Action Plan
• Asthma Action Plan
• D181 Food Allergy Management Plan
• D181 Food Allergy Management Plan: Parent Information & Overview
• D181 Individualized Health Care Plan

Communicable Diseases

Influenza: October-May according to the CDC is considered “Flu Season”.

Prevention: Keep your child home when they are ill; advise your child to cover their cough/sneeze, encourage frequent hand washing, especially before meals. Make sure to get an annual flu shot. According to the CDC, the best way to prevent flu is to get vaccinated. Most insurance companies now cover flu shots, however, if you do not have coverage, contact the DuPage County Health Department at (630) 682-7400 for providers offering affordable flu vaccinations.

Signs and Symptoms:

• fever*
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue
• sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

Transmission: Flu virus is spread by respiratory droplets when someone who is ill is talking, sneezes or coughs. It can be contracted from close contact, or sharing utensils, and less often, from surfaces that are contaminated by droplets and then a person transfers these to their eyes, nose or mouth.

Resources:

• US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
• DuPage County Health Department

General List of Common Childhood Illnesses from Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

Concussion Information

• Concussion Fact Sheet - English
• Concussion Fact Sheet - Spanish
• Return to Learn and Return to Play Protocols

Medication During School Hours

• Medication Authorization Form
  Students requiring medications during school hours, please have physician complete the above form.

Lice

General Information:

• Parents should regularly check their children for evidence of head lice and provide immediate treatment if head lice are detected.
• If a child has evidence of head lice the school should be informed.
• Contact the school if you are not sure your child has head lice and you need an opinion. Active head lice should be treated with a pediculicide shampoo and combing.
• Following treatment or manual removal of head lice, the school nurse may check the child for live lice only with parental consent.

Lice Information

You may have seen information in the news regarding a respiratory illness called the Coronavirus. This illness is predominantly spreading in a district in China. Please be assured that D181 administration, secretarial, and nursing staff are working together to diligently monitor for suspected cases. Parents can help minimize the spread of any contagious disease by keeping your student home when exhibiting signs and symptoms of illness. We also request that parents please notify the District if anyone in your family has been exposed to someone with the Coronavirus. Below are resources from the Illinois Department of Health and the DuPage County Health Department.

Illinois Department of Public Health FAQ

Coronavirus Resources:

• DuPage County Health Department Information - Coronavirus - English
• DuPage County Health Department Information - Coronavirus - Spanish

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact District Nurse Pam Barron at pbarron@d181.org.