We have had a few cases of RSV at the King Center. All children were sent home from school with the following RSV letter:
“Dear Parents,
This letter is to inform you that children in your child’s center have been diagnosed with RSV. Being a virus, it is of course contagious. It is spread through the oral route (saliva, coughing, sneezing).
The affected classrooms have been thoroughly disinfected. If your child develops a cold that seems unusual or other symptoms, please take your child to your doctor. Children with this virus should stay home at least 24 hours after all symptoms are gone, or until the physician indicates the child may return to child care (per procedures).
Below is some additional information from kidshealth.org on this type of virus.
About RSVRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes infection of the lungs and breathing passages, is a major cause of respiratory illness in young children.In adults, it may only produce symptoms of a common cold, such as a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, mild headache, cough, fever, and a general feeling of being ill. But in premature babies and kids with diseases that affect the lungs, heart, or immune system, RSV infections can lead to other more serious illnesses.RSV is highly contagious and can be spread through droplets containing the virus when someone coughs or sneezes. It also can live on surfaces (such as countertops or doorknobs) and on hands and clothing, so it can be easily spread when a person touches something contaminated.RSV can spread rapidly through schools and childcare centers. Babies often get it when older kids carry the virus home from school and pass it to them. Almost all kids are infected with RSV at least once by the time they’re 2 years old.RSV infections often occur in epidemics that last from late fall through early spring. Respiratory illness caused by RSV — such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia — usually lasts about a week, but some cases may last several weeks.Doctors typically diagnose RSV by taking a medical history and doing a physical exam. Generally, in healthy kids it’s not necessary to distinguish RSV from a common cold. But if a child has other health conditions, a doctor might want to make a specific diagnosis; in that case, RSV is identified in nasal secretions collected either with a cotton swab or by suction through a bulb syringe.
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s center or Health Staff.
Natalie Stephens RD LD CFIHealth Services Coordinator”
If you are KIng King Center parent and did not recieve a cy of this letter please contact the King Center
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