SCHOOL HEALTH

Did you know?

It’s a fact! Children who are healthy do better in school!

To help us help your child, health information is required as well as current health updates.

If your child has any chronic health problem, food allergies or other health concerns, please contact the School Nurse by email or call (785) 293-5256.

ILLNESS GUIDELINES

Knowing if and when to send your child to school or to keep them at home when they are ill or have a particular health issue, can be a challenging and difficult decision. The following information is based on Kansas Communicable Disease guidelines. This information is intended to help with those decisions. 

Please notify the school nurse or secretary if your child has of these symptoms or any other medical condition which may be considered contagious and could affect their school day activities.

Fever: If the student’s temperature is 100 degrees or higher, they should stay home, even if the temperature can be controlled with medication. They may return to school when they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of any temperature-reducing medication. When at school, if a student’s temperature is 100 degrees or higher, they will be sent home.

Colds/Coughing: Student should stay home until they are no longer frequently coughing or sneezing. Cough drops and/or other over-the-counter medicine are not permitted unless accompanied with a signed permission form from parent/guardian. All medication or cough drops must be sent in the original container labeled with student’s name. Please see “Medication at School” policy in student handbook.

Diarrhea and/or Vomiting. Student should stay home until they are symptom-free for 24 hours. (no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours) Students who vomit or have diarrhea at school will be sent home. If diarrhea/vomiting occurs at home during the night, or weekend, these same guidelines apply.

Hand, Foot, Mouth Syndrome (HFM)

HFM typically starts with a fever, decreased appetite, tiredness, and a sore throat. One or two days after fever starts, painful sores can develop around or in the mouth. A skin rash develops over one to two days and can be flat or red spots or blisters on the palms of hands, soles of feet, knees, elbows, buttocks, or genitals. HFM is a virus spread via respiratory secretions, fluid from blisters, feces, or contact with contaminated surfaces. Children should stay home from school if they have a fever or open sores. 

Head Lice

(Per school handbook)


Students found with live lice will be excluded from school until treated with approved pediculicide or doctor-approved treatment. Parents/Guardians will be notified when live lice are found. Students will be allowed to stay until the end of the school day, unless the itching/discomfort and general disruption of the student’s day indicates otherwise. 

Students may return the next day, providing appropriate treatment has been provided. Administration or School Nurse may request proof of treatment (shampoo label, dr. note, etc.) More information can be found at https://www.kdheks.gov/c-f/head_lice.htm

Impetigo

Impetigo is a skin infection caused by the streptococcus bacterium that presents as a round skin lesion or blister with a honey-like discharge/scab. Individuals who are diagnosed with impetigo will need to be excluded for 24 hours following initiation of antibiotic therapy


Flu (Influenza)

Flu symptoms include abrupt onset of fever, headache, muscle aches, cough, sore throat, and malaise (tiredness), and possibly vomiting and diarrhea. Influenza is spread person to person by respiratory droplets  created by coughing or sneezing or through contaminated surfaces.  Infected individual who test positive are required to remain home in isolation for 5 days following the onset of illness or until fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, whichever is longer.


Mono (Mononucleosis/Epstein Barr Virus)

Signs and symptoms of mono include: fever, extreme fatigue, sore throat, headache, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, swollen liver or spleen, and rash. Mono is spread person to person via saliva (kissing, sharing food or drinks and through blood.  There is no exclusion for an Infected individual with mono; however, it is recommended the person avoid strenuous activity and contact sports for 3-4 floor weeks after onset of symptoms.


MRSA Infections (Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin Resistant)


Staph infections may cause skin infections that looks like pimples or boils that can be red, swollen, painful, pus filled or other drainage. Transmitted via skin-to-skin contact and contaminated surfaces.  Unless directed by a physician, MRSA infections should not exclude Infected individual from school; however, open wounds should be covered with a clean dressing and good personal hygiene and skin-to-skin contact with others should be avoided. 




Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis, Bacterial)

Pink or red color in the write of the eye(s) causing discharge, itchy eyes, and crusting of eyelids or eye lashes. Pink eye is spread by contact from eye drainage or respiratory secretions of the infected individual and can be spread by contaminated hands, clothing or other items. Infected individual can return to/remain in  school once prescribed therapy is implemented. 



Ring Worm (Tinea)

Ring worm can be scaly patches of baldness on the head, flat, spreading ring-shaped lesions on the body, scaling/cracking of the skin especially between the toes, or nails of the hand or foot that gradually thicken becoming discolored and brittle. Spread via direct skin-to-skin contact or indirect contact with contaminated items. Infected individual may return to school if receiving treatment, but should not participate in athletic activities that involve skin-to-skin contact until lesions are completely healed.



Strep Throat

Strep throat includes redness, swelling, soreness to the throat; may also have fever or other symptoms. Strep throat is spread via person-to-person contact or contact with infected respiratory secretions. Individuals who test positive will need to be excluded for 24 hours following initiation of antibiotic therapy or 10 days following onset of symptoms if not treated.


More information on these diseases (except COVID-19 and lice), as well as other communicable diseases can be found at: https://www.kdheks.gov/epi/download/Kansas_Classroom_Handbook_of_Communicable_Diseases.pdf


RESOURCES

Dental Health

Health Careers

General Health Info

  • KidsHealth

    • a great site for basic health info, fun and games

    • includes sites for parents, kids, teens, and educators

General Health