CDC Guidelines for  H1N1 Novel Influenza

We are seeing a tremendous increase of parents requesting for their children to be seen in our school based clinical sites and community health centers due to the spread of influenza-like illnesses currently present in our community.  Please share with your staff and the parents of your students the following information based on current CDC guidelines:

 *   Based on the severity of 2009 H1N1 flu-related illness thus far, CDC recommends that students with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

 *   Not every student with influenza-like illness requires a visit to their health care provider/clinic.

 *   Parents should be encouraged to contact their healthcare provider if they have questions regarding whether their child should be seen.

 *   Persons who are not at higher risk for complications or do not have severe influenza requiring hospitalization generally do not require antiviral medications for treatment or prophylaxis

 *   Certain groups appear to be at increased risk of complications and may benefit most from early treatment with antiviral medications.

 *   These high risk conditions are the same conditions that increase the risk of complications from seasonal influenza infection.

Children under five years of age, with those under 2 years of age at greatest risk;

• Pregnant adolescents
• Students with the following conditions: chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus)
• Students with immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV
• Students younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy

 *   Students do not require a note from a physician or health care provider to return to school.

 *   When students who have had influenza-like illness return to school, they should continue to practice good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene and avoid close contact with other students that are known to be at increased risk of influenza-related complications.

• has difficulty breathing or chest pain
• has purple or blue discoloration of the lips
• is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
• has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants, a lack of tears when they cry
• has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions)
• is less responsive than normal or becomes confused

  For up to date information, consider signing up for CDC alerts at the following link:

  http://www.cdc.gov/emailupdates/index.html