School Health Info

Find answers to your school health questions by clicking on the links below. This information is provided by Alpena Public Schools and is meant to be a resource. It is not intended to replace the need for your health care provider's attention.

Should I send my child to school?

As parents, we have all had to decide whether a child's illness is severe enough to have him/her miss a day of school.  There are no "pat" answers, but here are some common sense guidelines:

• Fever: A child's temperature should be normal (98.6° F orally) for 24 hours before sending a child to school. If your youngster had a fever last night, he or she should probably stay home, even if the temperature in the morning is normal. Temperatures are often less in the morning, and fever often recurs by afternoon.
• Colds: Colds are a fact of life! As long as your child has no fever or particular discomfort, he or she may attend school. Please instruct your child on proper use and disposal of facial tissues, and remind him or her about good hand washing to reduce the spread of germs. If cold symptoms are severe, (thick greenish nasal discharge or frequent coughing that might disrupt your child's or others' learning), the child should stay home.
• Vomiting: If your child vomits during the night, it's probably wise to keep him or her home for the day to allow for rest and a liquid or soft diet.
• Earache: Hearing is essential for learning, so never ignore an earache. Keep your child home and contact a physician.
• Diarrhea: Loose stools have many causes; sometimes simple dietary indiscretions can be the culprit. Use common sense, but if the problem will disrupt learning or is accompanied by other symptoms (fever, severe cramping, etc.) or is persistent, consult your physician.
• Contagious Infestations & Infections: Conditions such as head-lice, scabies, impetigo, ringworm, and pink eye must be properly treated before a child returns to school. In the case of lice, all nits (eggs) must be removed from the hair. If you aren't sure if your child can return to school or not, contact your physician for guidance.
• Other Symptoms: Other symptoms that may be the early stages of a health problem could include changes in behavior such as irritability, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc. Let your instincts be your guide and contact your physician if you have questions.

Health Issue Fact Sheets

For family convenience, we have published some fact sheets on common health concerns. Click the links below for more information. These fact sheets are not a replacement for personalized healthcare advice. For more information, contact your physician or Health Dept. No. 4 at 356-4507.

Asthma
Diabetes
Head-Lice
Meningitis
MRSA
Pink Eye
Reye's Syndrome
Scabies
Scarlet Fever
Whooping Cough