The Rashes of Spring……………………….from Debbie Smith School Nurse Consultant

We have had reports of different skin rashes going through the school community over the last few weeks.  Please closely monitor your children for these highly contagious conditions and keep them home from school when they have symptoms.  Please keep your students home for at least 24 hours after they have had a fever (100 or above), vomiting or diarrhea. 

Fifth's disease : a mild viral illness, spread through respiratory secretions, characterized by reddened cheeks.  Pregnant women should consult with their doctor for advice if exposed to individuals with this common childhood illness.

•   Symptoms: a low-grade fever or no fever, facial rash ("slapped cheeks"), raised red rash on the arms and legs lasting a week or more.  Students are no longer contagious once the face rash occurs.

•   Return to school: 24 hours after fever is gone

Hand, Foot and Mouth is caused by a Coxsackie A virus, spread through respiratory secretions, or contaminated water or food, characterized mouth, hand & foot skin lesions.  It has no relationship to hoof and mouth disease of cattle. 

·   Symptoms : low grade fever, small, mildly painful mouth ulcers, small blister-like spots on palms of the hands, soles of the feet, in between fingers & toes and on the buttocks.

• Return to school : 24 hours after fever is gone

Chicken Pox   is caused by the Varicella virus, spread through respiratory secretions, characterized by distinct pimple-like "pox" on the skin and mucous membranes.

• Symptoms: low grade fever, lack of energy, loss of appetite, headache, pox rash -flat red spots that rapidly develop into blister-like lesions.  If your child has had the Chicken Pox vaccination, he or she can still get the disease but it is usually a milder case with fewer pox.  It can be so mild that your child may not seem that sick or have only a few pox, which can be mistaken for bug bites. Children with a mild form of the disease are still contagious and must stay home to prevent spread of the disease.
• Return to school: The period of communicability is from one day BEFORE the rash to 5-6 days after the onset of the rash. Students are excluded from school until all lesions are crusted (usually a minimum of 5-6 days).

Scarletina- Scarlet Fever is a skin reaction to a Strep infection (strep throat), spread by respiratory secretions, characterized by fine pink rash. Treatment is antibiotics.

• Symptoms:  sandpaper (rough but fine) pink rash appearing 12-48 hours after the onset of sore throat.  This rash blanches (turns white) with pressure.  Strep throat symptoms: fever (not always!!), sore throat, stomachache, headache.
• Return to school: 24 hours after antibiotic therapy is started

February 24, 2010

From the School Nurse Consultant, Debbie Smith

and the Health Assistant, Mary Schmitt

MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL

In order to keep all students in the school safe, North Star Academy follows the elementary school medication policy  (click link) for all students Kindergarten through 8^th grade.   This is for the safety of all students at the school.  If medication is lost or dropped out of a backpack it may be picked up and taken by another student.  This policy requires all medication to be dispensed from the health office with the proper paperwork completed. Students are not allowed to bring any kind of prescription or over-the-counter medication in their backpack to be taken during the school day. Many medications are available in long acting forms and parents are encouraged to administer medication at home so as to not disrupt the school day for their child.  Students who require medication (including prescription and over-the-counter medication) to be given during the school day must have a Medication Release Request form (click link) signed by both the parent and the physician.  This form specifies exactly what medication is to be given, what dosage and what time. Medications will only be accepted at school in the pharmacy container or the original store bottle. Individual exceptions to this policy i.e. allowing a student to carry medications are considered and require a Permission to Carry Request & Contract to Carry Form .

TYLENOL AT SCHOOL

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is available at school for all students Kindergarten through 8^th grade for specific health complaints that include headache, toothache, muscle pain, menstrual cramps and fever ( only if the parent is on the way to pick up their child) . Parents must sign Tylenol permission at the beginning of every year in order for your child to receive Tylenol at school for these symptoms.  Tylenol is not given to students who have a sore throat unless the student is being taken home, as we do not want to "cover up" the symptoms of strep throat.

Please contact Debbie Smith (cell #303-519-3912) or Mary Schmitt (720-851-7827, ext. 215) if you have any questions regarding the North Star Academy Medication Policy.