This is just a fact sheet for you to keep
about Pink Eye.
Winter time is the primary season for Pink Eye to spread.
To help us prevent Pink eye, please talk with your
children about hand washing and not touching their eyes. If you
see any of the signs or symptoms of Pink Eye, please keep them
home until they have been evaluated by a healthcare
professional.
The administration of prescription or over-the-counter medication by school personnel to students in school shall be done only with written authorization and direction of a licensed medical or osteopathic physician or dentist. A "Request for Medication to be given at School" form shall be filled out and signed by the physician/dentist and the parent/guardian.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.
Every year in the United States, on average:
Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Symptoms of flu include:
Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. There are two types of vaccines:
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.
Reye’s syndrome is a very serious disease that you should know about.
Some people develop Reye’s syndrome as they are getting over a viral illness, such as the flu or chicken pox. Reye’s syndrome usually affects people from infancy through young adulthood.
Reye’s syndrome should be suspected in anyone who vomits repeatedly. Studies have shown that using aspirin or aspirin-containing medications to treat the symptoms of viral illnesses increases the chance of developing Reye’s syndrome. If you or a member of your family has a viral illness, do not use aspirin or aspirin-containing medications. In fact, you should consult your physician before you take any drugs, particularly aspirin or anti-nausea medicines, to treat flu, chicken pox or any viral illness. Anti-nausea medicines may mask the symptoms of Reye’s syndrome.
The National Reye’s syndrome Foundation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that aspirin and combination products containing aspirin not be taken by anyone under 19 years of age during fever causing illnesses.