Message from the school nurses
(Spanish) As the winter months begin, the cold and flu season is upon us. At the state and county level there has been an increase of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) among the pediatric population.
RSV is a common respiratory illness that can affect persons of any age. RSV infections generally occur in the United States from November to April. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age in the United States.
Early symptoms of RSV are generally mild and include a runny nose, decrease in appetite, low grade fever and cough. Most children recover with rest and fluids. However, in some children, symptoms can progress to wheezing, difficulty breathing and gasping for breath (severe RSV), for which you should seek immediate medical care.
To help protect your family from illness:
- Wash your hands often
- Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with sick people
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or inside of your elbow
- Clean and disinfect surfaces
- Stay home when you are sick
- Stay up to date on immunizations
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