Renner PTA

1. Many children are being tested for type A flu, but not for H1N1. The H1N1 test is expensive and may be 40-60% inaccurate. If a student has Type A flu, it is assumed that it is the H1N1 strain at this time.
2. Not every ill person is prescribed Tamiflu or other antiviral medication. It depends on the person’s medical history and the severity of the symptoms. Observe your child carefully for changes in their breathing status and call your doctor if there is a change.
3. If you have anyone in your family with the flu or strong evidence of flu-like symptoms, AND your other children begin to show mild symptoms - please keep them home too, even without a fever.
4. Some kids are not getting a high fever. Don’t wait for the fever to keep them home if they are already complaining or sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, chest congestion, weakness, body aches or extreme tiredness.
5. We are all, parents, teachers and nurses alike, having some trouble figuring out if a child’s mild symptoms are a cold, allergy or flu. Sometimes it takes a progression of symptoms to tell the whole story. PLEASE consider that if your child has any respiratory symptoms or fever that are likely to be contagious, whether it is a cold, strepp throat or the flu. We all value good school attendance, but not when a child is likely to be contagious.
6. We still hold the CDC guideline as our return policy: 24 hours fever free without the use of fever reducing medications.

If you have any questions about how we are managing at Renner, please feel free to e-mail the nurse at judith.grace@pisd.edu . Please don’t call - it’s a little hectic in the health office right now.

WASH YOUR HANDS!

Judith A. Grace, RN, NCSN Certified School Nurse Renner Middle School 469-752-5809 469-752-5814 (fax)