Viral diseases are communicable and can be transferred from person-to-person through direct hand-to-hand contact or through air droplets. When a person coughs/sneezes, the virus goes with the secretion/mucus spray and can either travel via air, which we can inhale, or can land on surfaces (like table) and can stay alive and contagious up to 36 hours, especially in cold areas. The virus, specifically the flu virus, has an envelope/covering that hardens into a rubbery gel when it’s cold, making it tougher and shields the virus when it passes from person to person. In warmer temperatures however, the protective gel envelope melts to liquid phase, which is not that tough and so the virus loses its ability to spread.
If you have or your child has FEVER, whether low-grade, moderate-grade, or high-grade, with or without associated symptoms such as cough, colds, sore throat, muscle/joint pains, stomach ache, loose watery stools, nausea/vomiting, and/or rashes, it is best to have a check-up for further evaluation and management and have complete bed rest at home in order to recover faster.
Here are a few reminders to help minimize the spread of the viral-induced illnesses:
- Remind your child of the importance of frequent proper hand washing after using the restroom and before/after eating.
- Simple habits such as exercising regularly, drinking more fluids than usual, and eating well can also help fight seasonal diseases.
- Let your child bring a small bottle of rubbing alcohol, preferably 70% Ethyl solution, as disinfectant before/after eating and after using the restrooms. (Hand sanitizers are not quite helpful because the alcohol content is less than the plain rubbing alcohol plus it is isopropyl and mostly contains perfume extracts only). Ethyl alcohol can kill Enterovirus, which can cause a type of Conjunctivitis (sore eyes) that has a complication manifesting as sub conjunctival hemorrhage, a blot of blood on a person’s sclera (the white part).
- Girls may start wearing long pants to prevent mosquito bites. The Vice Principal for Operations will issue the guidelines on this.
- Remind your child to use tissue in covering her/his nose/mouth when coughing or sneezing. Use of tissue will avoid the transfer of virus on doorknobs, tables, chairs, on keyboards, or anything else that your child and other people touch.
- Getting Flu vaccine is also recommended. (It’s worth the shots!)
- Viral illnesses are usually self-limiting and would need supportive treatment such as controlling fever and increasing oral fluid intake. Antibiotics are not really necessary.
- As stated in past health advisories, the school reiterates its appeal to parents to make sure that they bring their child to a doctor and that their child stays at home if he/she manifests any symptom of any viral illness.
- Remind your child to go straight to the clinic to get medical clearance upon return from absence.
Stay safe and healthy everyone!