Eugene School District 4J

Flu season is upon us, and we have had a growing number of students out sick from school. While attendance is certainly important, our biggest concern is that students are safe and healthy while at school. Here are some reminders and guidelines for what to do when your child is sick:

DO NOT send your child to school until they have been fever-free (under 100 degrees) for 24 hours without any fever-reducing medication (e.g., Tylenol or Advil). Aspirin should not be given for fever due to viruses in order to prevent a complication called Reye’s syndrome. In general, if your child has a cough lasting 7 days, seek medical care.

Please keep your child home if you see any of these signs:

• Fever greater than 100.0° F
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stiff neck or headache with fever
• Any rash with or without fever
• Unusual behavior change, such as irritability and/or lethargy
• Jaundice (yellow coloring of skin or eyes)
• Skin lesions that are “weepy” (fluid or pus-filled)
• Colored drainage from eyes
• Brown/green drainage from nose with fever
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; serious, sustained cough

Your child should not return to school until 24 hours after their last episode of fever, vomiting or diarrhea. If possible, consider keeping your student home for an extra day to fully recover. If your student has a chronic condition that is impacting attendance, please contact your school nurse.

Simple measures can often stop the spread of common illnesses, including:

• Repeated Cleaning: Clean frequently touched surfaces (doorknobs, changing tables, toys, equipment, etc.) using a bleach/water solution (1/2 cup bleach to 1 gallon water)
• Handwashing: Wash hands frequently, especially after diaper changes, toilet use, and prior to eating.
• Vaccination: Flu vaccines are available and can be effective in preventing or decreasing the severity of illness

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Lane County Health Department Communicable Disease Control Program at 541-682-4041.