We are starting to see some cases of flu at Turrentine Middle Schoool. Make sure you and your children are vaccinated against the flu now – it can take up to two weeks to build immunity against the flu so don’t delay!

Influenza is a contagious disease of the respiratory tract (nose, throat, and lungs) that can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and the worsening of other chronic health conditions. Flu symptoms may include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.  The best way to protect your family from new influenza strains is to get vaccinated each year.

Follow good health guidelines: eat right, exercise, and get plenty of rest to help boost your immunity to fight the effects of colds and flu. Wash hands frequently, do the elbow cough, and disinfect hot spots at school, work, and home.

Sometimes children will get sick anyway.  The BEST thing you can do is to keep children home when they are sick.  This will help stop the spread of illness to other children and teachers.  Children need to be kept home when they have any of these symptoms:

• Fever of 100 degrees or higher.
• Children should stay home until they have been without fever for at least 24 hours.  Children should not be given Tylenol or Advil (ibuprofen) to reduce the fever and then sent to school.  The child may be highly contagious to others.
• Nausea or vomiting within the last 24 hours.
• Severe headache
• Diarrhea within the last 24 hours.
• Red, watery eyes with yellow drainage
• Unexplained rash

The CDC, Center for Disease Control, has a great flu guide for parents located at the following link:

Flu Guide for Parents. 

I hope that you and your family stay healthy this flu season.  Should you have any questions or concerns let me know!

Melissa Johnson BSN, RN

TMS School Nurse