We currently have a high number of students that are unwell.

We currently are having an influx of sick students and this is higher than normal.  Most inlcude symptoms of a tummy/gastro bug or influenza symptoms.  

Please keep your child home if they have any symptoms to stop the spread to other students and teachers.

Also, please read the important health information below:

Influenza

https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/flu-influenza 

Influenza – or the flu – is a virus that spreads quickly from person to person. Symptoms include fever, chills, aches, runny nose, a cough and stomach upset. Immunisation is your best defence against the flu.

Influenza can be caused by different strains of the influenza virus. (Symptoms for different types of flu are the same.) The seasonal influenza vaccine is altered most years to cover the particular strains of the virus that are circulating each year. When a new (novel) strain of the flu virus emerges that infects many people in a very short time, it is called a ‘flu pandemic’.

The influenza virus infects your nose, throat and lungs. The flu is normally worse than a cold and spreads quickly from person to person through touch and through the air.

Symptoms of influenza come on suddenly and can include fever, chills, muscle aches, runny nose, cough and stomach upsets.

Signs and symptoms of influenza can include:

• fever (a temperature of 38°C or higher)
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• stomach upset, vomiting or diarrhoea.

It may take between 1–4 days to feel symptoms after you catch influenza.

The worst symptoms usually last about 5 days, but coughing can last up to 2–3 weeks.

Stay away from people who are sick

Keep your distance from people who are sick - at least 2 metres.

If your child becomes sick, keep them at home and don't send them to school or daycare until they are well.

Gastroenteritis

https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/health-a-z/g/gastroenteritis-in-children/ 

Gastroenteritis is a gut infection that causes stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea (runny, watery poos). Children with vomiting and diarrhoea need to drink lots of fluids to prevent them from becoming dehydrated.

Gastroenteritis is also known as gastro, tummy bug, food poisoning, traveller's diarrhoea, stomach flu or viral enteritis.

Common causes of gastro in children are viruses, bacteria (food poisoning) and intestinal parasites. Read more about causes of gastro in children.

Symptoms include:

• diarrhoea (runny, watery poos)
• pain or cramps in the abdomen, tummy or puku
• vomiting
• irritability
• poor appetite
• mild fever
• headache.

Most children with gastro have mild symptoms that do not need to be treated by a doctor. Sometimes gastro can lead to severe dehydration and other dangerous complications. This is more likely to happen in babies, children with chronic illnesses and children with a weakened immune system.

Gastro can be easily passed from person to person. If your child has gastro, keeping them off school or pre-school for at least 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting.