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Five Fast Flu Facts:
Flu symptoms include fever, chills, body aches, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion.
Flu is spread when a person who has the flu coughs,sneezes, or speaks and sends the flu virus into the air. The virus enters the nose, throat or lungs of a person and multiplies. Flu spreads less frequently when a person touches a surface that has flu virus on it.
If you get the flu: rest, drink plenty of liquids, and avoid alcohol and tobacco.
Antibiotics like penicillin will not cure the flu. The best way to prevent flu is to get a flu shot. Over-the-counter medication may relieve symptoms of flu. The National Institute for Allergies & Infectious Diseases recommends acetaminophen (Tylenol) for children; aspirin or acetaminophen for adults. Decongestants, cough suppressants, and the use of a humidifier may provide symptomatic relief.
In addition to flu shots, three anti-viral medicines are available by prescription which will help prevent flu infection: Tamiflu, Flumadine and Symmetrel.
Note: Things to keep in mind when the school-aged child has the flu:
Most antihistamines cause sleepiness. If a child still has a stuffy nose when she returns to school, parents may want to ask the child's doctor to prescribe a non-sedating antihistamine.
Encourage children to cover coughs and sneezes, wash hands frequently, and keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth.
A sick child is advised to stay at home during the first days of illness when symptoms are most severe and the infection is most contagious. Children may return when symptoms are improving and no fever has been detected for 24 hours.
Is it a cold or is it the flu?
Physical findings (Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases):
Is it a common cold or an allergy?
Physical findings (Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases):
Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the thin membrane that covers the eyeball and lines the eyelid. The inflammation may be caused by bacteria, or a virus or by allergic, chemical or physical factors. When conjunctivitis is caused by a bacterial or viral infection that results in discharge from the eye(s), students may be excluded from school until their health care provider has examined them and approved readmission to school. Please contact the school nurse to report, or for more information regarding conjunctivitis.
To prevent the spread of conjunctivitis:
Wash hands often
Keep hands away from eyes
Do not share eye drops, tissues, washcloths etc.
Do not use other people's cosmetics
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