Sample Letters – Notification of Illness from School Nurse
Students with PANDAS/ PANS may experience symptoms simply from being exposed to an infection. It is vital for the School Nurse to foster communication between the entire school population about who and when someone has an infectious illness.
School Nurses should send out letters that Request for Notice of Infectious Illness to the school community or to a specific classroom and set of staff that is in direct contact with the student.
For more information on the Role of the School Nurse
Strep Throat Alert Letter
Short Version
Dear Parents,
It is school policy to report when your child has when has been absent due to an illness. We request that everyone does this consistently. There are students at our school who have a serious autoimmune condition related to strep throat and other common infections. It is important that these families know if their child has been exposed to strep or other illnesses. If your child becomes sick, please let the School Nurse office know. Your child’s personal information and identity will not be disclosed to anyone. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe, healthy environment for all of our students. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Notification of Illness – Strep Throat Alert Letter
Long Version
Dear Parents,
We are seeing an increase in the reported cases of Strep throat. It is very important that you notify the school if your child is diagnosed with Strep throat or any other illness. There are students at our school who have a serious autoimmune condition related to strep throat and other common infections. It is important that these families know if their child has been exposed to strep or other illnesses. The excused absence notes from your doctors almost never indicate the specific reason. Your child’s personal information and identity will not be disclosed to anyone. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe, healthy environment for all of our students. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Please take these precautions:
- Watch your child for signs of a sore throat and other signs of strep (headache, fever, stomachache, swollen and tender neck glands).
- If your child develops a sore throat and any of these other signs, please see your healthcare provider; tell her or him that other children in the school have been diagnosed with strep and ask to have your child tested for strep throat. If strep is found, your child should receive treatment and you should report this to your school health office.
Information about strep throat
What is strep throat?
Strep throat is a sore throat caused by Streptococcus bacteria that are passed around through nose and mouth droplets. It is very common in children. Most sore throats, however, are caused by viruses and are not treated with antibiotics.
Why is it important that your child receive treatment?
There are three main reasons:
- Treatment reduces the spread of illness. If not treated or not treated long enough, your child may continue to spread the infection.
- Treatment with antibiotics can usually prevent rheumatic fever. Rarely, some children with strep throat later develop rheumatic fever (abnormalities of the heart valves and inflammation of the joints).
- Treatment will also prevent other rare, but possibly dangerous, complications such as PANS/PANDAS, a form of autoimmune encephalitis resulting in OCD, tics, anxiety and other symptoms.
When can your child come back to school?
Children with strep infections may return to school after taking medicine for at least 24 hours and fever is gone.
What should you do to prevent the spread of strep throat?
- Wash Hands thoroughly wash your hands after wiping noses and before eating or preparing food.
- Wash dishes carefully in hot, soapy water or a dishwasher.
- Do not share food, utensils, or cups.
- Sanitize toothbrushes by replacing or boiling them.
Sample Letters
- Sample Letter – Section 504 Determination Request
- Sample Letter – Request to an Evaluation for an IEP & 504 Plan
- Sample Letter – Request for Prior Written Notice – PWN
- Sample Letters – Notification of Illness from School Nurse
Learn more about PANS PANDAS in the school setting. PANS PANDAS is a medical condition in which symptoms affect a student’s ability to attend school and learn.