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 Information for Parents and Caregivers

 
12/22 CDC Podcast: Flu and Children with High-Risk Medical Conditions:

Click to Play

For transcript CLICK HERE
 
Human cases of H1N1 influenza (swine flu) have been identified in the United States and internationally.  The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is working closely with state and federal health officials to increase surveillance and will continue to monitor the situation closely. For more information, please read Flu Fact Sheet for Parents and Caregivers.
 
Symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to regular seasonal flu and include sudden fever, cough, muscle aches, headaches, chills and general weakness.  In most cases, symptoms start suddenly and are much more severe than the common cold.  If your child has a fever of 100 °F or more and a cough or sore throat, he/she should not go to school.  For a complete checklist of when to keep your child home from school, please read:
Symptoms Checklist for Families and Schools
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Portuguese
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Spanish 
 
Prevent Flu
Parents and caregivers should remind children to: 
  • Cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze -- have them throw the tissue away after they use it.  If they do not have a tissue, remind them to sneeze into their upper sleeve. 
  • Wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze.  If water is not near by, they can use an alcohol-based hand cleaner with adult supervision if needed.  Be sure to teach children to scrub their hands together with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
  • Remind them to not touch their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs can spread this way.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick, if possible.
 
Flu: What You Can Do - Caring For People At Home
For more information on taking care of someone sick with the flu at home, a pamphlet, video, and learning tools explaining symptoms of flu, how to take care of someone ill with the flu, how to avoid getting the flu, and how to prevent giving the flu to others are available through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH).
Temporary School Closures
The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) along with the Boston Public Schools (BPS), private schools, charter schools and parochial schools in Boston monitor student absentee rates each school year. In the spring of 2009, city officials temporarily closed several schools due to a large number of students out with flu-like illness.  Click here for a list of all Boston schools temporarily closed due to significant flu-like illness. Temporary school closure is based on many factors.  Please click here for revised guidelines. 
 
Information and Resources
 
            Flu Preparation Letter for Parents and Guardians
                         - Chinese
                         - French
                         - Haitian Creole
                         - Portuguese
                         - Spanish
                         - Vietnamese
 
For more information about H1N1 flu, please read our Flu Fact Sheet for Parents and Caregivers
 
In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO), US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) also frequently update their websites with H1N1 flu information and guidance.

Service Requests
For service requests, please fill out the
Service Request Form and email it to Sandra Vasquez at svasquez@bphc.org, or fax it to her attention at 617-534-2297.

(Return to Flu Home Page)

 

 

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This is a machine translation to provide a basic understanding of our web content. It is a literal translation and certain words may not translate accurately. BPHC is not responsible for the accuracy of any translation using this service. This translation should never be used to translate documents for distribution to residents or clients.

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Mayor's Health Line
Phone: (617) 534-5050
Fax: (617) 534-2297
Email:mayorshealthline@bphc.org
1010 Massachusetts Ave, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02118

 Fact Sheets

 Protect Children From Flu

Dr. Snehal Shah, pediatrician at Boston Medical Center, describes how parents can protect their children from getting the flu.

 MSNBC

Dr. Anita Barry, director of the Commission's Infectious Disease Bureau speaks with Dr. Nancy Snyderman, MSNBC, about preparations for the fall flu season, including what schools can do to protect their students.

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