Health Services

For the 2023-2024 school year, Health Forms can be uploaded through ParentVUE. Please follow the steps below at any point in the year to upload your Health Forms, including Sports Physicals.

1. Log in to ParentVUE and click Online Registration (top right).
2. Select the 2023-2024 Health Form Uploads or 2023-2024 Sports Physical Uploads.
3. Click on the Documents tab on the left.
4. Upload your documents to the correct category. When complete, submit the registration.
5. Additional information may be required upon request from the school nurse. If you have any questions, contact your school nurse or submit a ticket by emailing support@lz95.net.

Overview

Local Wellness Policies are a valuable tool in the promotion of student health and wellness. Schools play an essential role in preparing students for successful futures, and proper nutrition and physical activity are key to creating constructive learning environments. Local Wellness Policies provide guidance to further support schools efforts to provide students with a successful and healthy future.

Food Allergies, Food in Schools

The goal of District 95 is to provide a safe environment for all children including those with life-threatening food allergies. Although the risk to students with these allergies in the schools cannot be completely eliminated it can be greatly reduced. AVOIDANCE IS THE KEY TO PREVENTING A REACTION.

Click here for Administrative Procedure 7:285 (Anaphylaxis Prevention, Response and Management Program)

Click here for Administrative Procedure 7:285-AP, E Exhibit (Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan)

Concussion Information & Protocols

Recent and ongoing research provides better recognition of symptoms and diagnosis of concussions, along with advances in the treatment and care of diagnosed concussions in children.

Symptoms of a concussion include:  headaches, foggy/cloudy or slower thinking/processing, short/long term memory loss, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, inability to focus/concentrate, irritability, balance difficulties, and sensitivity to light or noise.  Loss of consciousness does not have to be present to have a concussion.  Symptoms can appear immediately or 12-48 hours after the injury.

Immediately following a head injury or the diagnosis of a concussion, not only should they have physical rest, but physicians prefer the child to limit/avoid any "brain activities" (cognitive rest) for a prescribed amount of time.  For a child, brain activities are described as reading, playing video games, texting, any computer use, watching TV, homework, and school work.  As symptoms resolve, the child can begin to return to small amounts of activity for shortened periods of time, with many breaks to give the brain an opportunity to rest.   This is VERY important for healing - the more immediate and full rest an individual can get, the quicker and better outcome/recovery he or she will experience.

Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 strives to support students diagnosed with a concussion in accordance with medical professional recommendations and Illinois mandates.  Please refer to this for protocol for guidance should your child be diagnosed with a concussion and during a child's recovery period.  Contact one of the school nurses with any questions.

Click here for District 95 Concussion Care Protocols

Overview

Head lice infestation is common among children 3 to 12 years of age; approximately 6 to 12 million have infestations each year.  Head lice are not a health hazard or a sign of uncleanliness and do NOT spread disease.  The most common symptom is itching.  Head lice are the cause of much embarrassment and misunderstanding.  This information is to inform you of the facts on head lice and offer you recommendations in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses.

DEFINITION

Lice are tiny insects that live in your hair.  They are wingless insects and cannot fly or hop.  The adult louse is 2-3 mm long (the size of a sesame seed) and usually pale gray, although color may vary.  The female lives up to 3-4 weeks and lays approximately 10 eggs (nits) a day.  These tiny eggs are firmly attached to the hair shaft close to the scalp with a glue-like substance.  The eggs hatch in 10-14 days. 

TRANSMISSION

Lice are transmitted primarily by close head to head contact.  Indirect spread through contact with personal belongings (combs, brushes, hats, towels, bedding) is less likely but cannot be excluded.  Lice found on combs are likely to be injured or dead, and a healthy louse is not likely to leave a healthy head.  Away from the host, lice can live only 1-2 days.

DETECTION

The main symptom is scalp itching.  It is difficult to find live lice because of their size and because they move so rapidly.  The best way to confirm suspicion of pediculosis is to see the nits adhered to the hair shafts.  Examine the scalp carefully using popsicle sticks or tongue depressors to part the hair.  Nits are grayish-white and are attached to the hair.  Dandruff can be easily brushed away, nits cannot.

TREATMENT

Only the person with lice should be treated.  Household members and close contacts should be checked, but only treat those who actually have lice.  However, family members that share the same bed should be checked very thoroughly for lice and nits.   Step 1: Lice treatment products can be purchased at local drug stores.  This treatment will eliminate all mature lice and most, if not all the eggs.  Follow the specific directions on the product you purchase. Step 2: Remove all nits with a comb specially designed for nit removal. Step 3: Repeat the treatment process with the lice product in 7- 1 0 days to make sure all lice and their eggs have been eradicated.  Follow this with the nit combing.

RECOMMENDATIONS

All bedding, including pillows, should be thoroughly washed in soap and hot water (greater than 130 degrees F).  The combs and brushes should be soaked in the lice treatment product for 20 minutes.  Dry all machine washables in a hot dryer. Washing, soaking, or drying items at temperatures greater than 130 degrees will likely kill stray lice or nits.  Furniture, carpeting, car seats, and other fabrics items can be vacuumed or dry cleaned.   Because lice do not survive off the head for more than 48 hours, only household items that have been in contact with the head of the person with infestation in the 24-48 hours before treatment should be considered for cleaning.   The house should NOT be sprayed with insecticide, nor should insecticide be used on clothing or other item.  Animals are not affected by human lice.

PREVENTION

Check each family member's hair periodically for lice.  Instruct your child NOT to use other people's combs, brushes, hats or clothes.  

DISTRICT 95 POLICY

At the end of the day, any child suspected of having head lice should see a health care provider and, if lice is confirmed, the child should start treatment before returning to school.  Families will be notified to ask their child’s healthcare provider for advice about which treatment should be used.  If treatment is started before the next day, no exclusion is necessary.  However, the child may be excluded until treatment is started.  Some treatments must be repeated 7-10 days after the initial treatment.  Until the treatment course is completed avoid any activity that involves the child in head to head contact with other children.  Confidentiality will be maintained. 

Please see the following links for more information about head lice.

https://medlineplus.gov/headlice.html

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/from-insects-animals/Pages/Signs-of-Lice.aspx

Influenza (Flu) Information 

Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Flu is different from a cold. Flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:  

•  fever* or feeling feverish/chills
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• muscle or body aches
• headaches
• fatigue (tiredness)
• some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults 

Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes. 

On average, about 8% of the U.S. population gets sick from flu each season, with a range of between 3% and 11%, depending on the severity of the flu season. You may be able to spread flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. 

• People with flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins.
• Some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.
• Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time. 

It takes 1-4 days from the time from when a person is exposed and infected with flu for the symptoms develop.  Complications of Flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. 

Anyone can get flu (even healthy people), and serious problems related to flu can happen at any age, but some people are at high risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women, and children younger than 5 years. 

Flu Vaccine Information 

The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.   Flu vaccine has been shown to reduce flu related illnesses and the risk of serious flu complications that can result in hospitalization or even death. CDC also recommends everyday preventive actions (like staying away from people who are sick, wearing masks, covering coughs and sneezes, and frequent handwashing) to help slow the spread of germs that cause respiratory (nose, throat, and lungs) illnesses, like flu. 

It is very difficult to distinguish flu from other viral or bacterial respiratory illnesses based on symptoms alone. There are tests available to diagnose flu and antiviral medications that are used to treat influenza illness.  Always call your health care provider when you have symptoms of the flu and get a flu vaccine every year.  The more of us that get the vaccine the smaller the number of people who will become ill with influenza every year.   
Call your school nurse with any questions. 

Meningitis and Meningitis Vaccine 

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by a number of infectious agents including viruses and bacteria. The type of meningitis is determined by conducting laboratory tests. 

Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis and is less severe than bacterial meningitis. In Illinois, an average of 600 cases of aseptic meningitis is reported annually, with most occurring in late summer and early autumn. The majority of cases of aseptic meningitis are due to viruses called enteroviruses that can infect the stomach and small intestine. A small number of cases are caused by different viruses, which can be transmitted by infected mosquitoes.  Fatal cases of viral meningitis are rare and complete recovery is the rule. 

Bacterial meningitis is often more severe than viral meningitis, particularly in infants and the elderly. Before antibiotics were widely used, 70 percent or more of bacterial meningitis cases were fatal; with antibiotic treatment, the fatality rate has dropped to 15 percent or less. Bacterial meningitis is most common in the winter and spring.  

How is it spread? 

Meningitis is not highly contagious. Both viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis can be spread through direct contact with nose and throat secretions. Healthy persons, who have no signs of illness, can have these bacteria in their nose or throat and spread them to others. Sharing a glass, cup or eating utensil, coughing or sneezing into the face of another person, or sharing a cigarette are examples of how contact with another person's respiratory secretions might occur. 

Viral meningitis can be transmitted by fecal contamination (in addition to respiratory secretions) when an infected person sheds or excretes virus in his/her stool. 

What are the symptoms of meningitis? 

Meningitis can produce mild symptoms — such as headache, low-grade fever and tiredness lasting two to three days — in some patients. In other patients, the symptoms can be severe and begin suddenly with fever, headache and stiff neck accompanied by some combination of other symptoms: decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to bright light, confusion and sleepiness. 

In newborns and infants, the classic findings of fever, headache and stiff neck may or may not be present. An infant may have no other symptoms than being listless, irritable and sleepy, having little interest in feeding and possibly vomiting. Also, a purplish red 
rash may appear with meningococcal meningitis.  Contact your doctor for any symptom of meningitis. 

Meningitis Vaccination Information

Vaccines can help prevent meningococcal disease, which is any type of illness caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. There are 2 types of meningococcal vaccines available in the United States: 

• Meningococcal conjugate or MenACWY vaccines (Menactra® and Menveo®)
• Serogroup B meningococcal or MenB vaccines (Bexsero® and Trumenba®) 

All 11 to 12 year olds should get a meningococcal conjugate vaccine, with a booster dose at 16 years old. Teens and young adults (16 through 23 year olds) also may get a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine. CDC also recommends meningococcal vaccination for other children and adults who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease. 

Talk with your or your child’s clinician if you have questions about meningococcal vaccines.