Dear Parents,
I wanted to inform you that several students in our school were recently diagnosed and treated for Strep Throat. This is not uncommon in the months of late winter and spring. In order to limit the spread of this bacterial infection please educate yourselves on the signs and symptoms of Strep. (See below).
If you suspect a febrile illness or any other signs of Strep please refrain from sending your child to school and follow up with your child's pediatrician for early diagnosis and treatment. Hand Hygiene is always a good practice to avoid the spread of germs.
Thanks for your cooperation!
Julie Muskal RN, BSN, MEd
Certified School Nurse
Maple Dale Elementary
Sycamore School District
Tel:(513)686-1723
Fax:(513) 792-6112
STREP THROAT
What Causes Strep Throat?
The Streptococcal bacteria that causes this infection is spread by direct person-to-person contact through droplets of saliva or nasal secretions. The Streptococci frequently live in the throats of persons who have no symptoms and these individuals are called carriers. Up to 20% of school children may be carriers without being sick.
What Are the Signs of Illness? May experience one or more of these symptoms.
- Oral temperature of 101 degrees-104 degrees (but some people do NOT run fevers)
- Sore throat with severe pain on swallowing
- A beefy red colored throat
- Stomach pain or Headache
- Swollen tonsils and uvula
- Swollen glands along the jawline
- Generalized weakness and fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Pus on tonsils
Up to 40% of children have symptoms too mild for diagnosis. Usually, the fever goes away in 3-5 days, and nearly all symptoms are gone within a week. Rarely, the bacteria may spread and cause arthritis, heart problems, meningitis, bone infections, or liver problems.
How do I Know if my Child Has Strep?
Take your child to the pediatrician. Just looking at the throat does not always indicate that a strep infection is present. Strep throat should be detected by various tests, most often a throat culture.
What Is the Treatment?
- The usual treatment for Strep throat is antibiotic therapy. You must finish the full prescription and not skip doses, even if your child feels better.
- No child with a diagnosed strep infection should return to school until 24 hours of appropriate antibiotic therapy is complete. Even then, the child should be without fever and feel strong enough to handle the school day.
- Bed rest/isolation from others for 24 hours after antibiotic therapy begins are very important.
- Frequent hand washing prevents the spread of infection.
- If the sore throat continues after completing the medication, return to see the physician. Recurrent Strep is not uncommon and may need a change in antibiotics.
- Notify the school nurse if your child has strep throat.
- Change your child’s toothbrush after completing the first 24 hours of antibiotic treatment to prevent re-contamination.
