Elementary school students are in close proximity and share things with each other throughout the day, which can make dealing with the spread of common winter illnesses challenging, said Peterborough Elementary School nurse Jill Gourley.

Gourley and Mason Elementary School nurse Danielle Carrier both said they have been reminding students about the importance of hand-washing and covering their coughs and sneezes, things that are especially easy for children to forget during a busy school day.

Additionally, Carrier said it can sometimes be hard for younger students to clearly describe all of their symptoms when they are sick. She emphasized that it is important for parents or guardians to accurately communicate students’ symptoms to the school so they can better track the spread of illnesses in specific classrooms. 

The nurses also noted it is important for students to come prepared with the appropriate cold-weather clothing for their time outside during recess. It’s common for children to misplace or lose these, especially smaller items such as gloves, hats and scarves. Carrier noted there were currently several articles of clothing that had been dropped off at the school’s lost-and-found.

To help combat the spread of infectious illnesses, the schools have been proactive in sanitizing surfaces that students frequently come into contact with over the course of a school day, such as door handles and faucet knobs. 

A Feb. 6 email sent out to parents and guardians of Mason Elementary School students noted the increase in cases of several seasonal illnesses in the area, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and strep throat.

The notice reminded parents that noroviruses, sometimes called “Norwalk'' or “Norwalk-type” viruses, are resistant to hand sanitizers. It emphasized the importance of proper hand-washing with soap and water to help avoid and prevent these gastrointestinal viruses, which are common during the winter.

Gourley said that other common ailments that show up in elementary schools around this time include bronchitis, conjunctivitis, croup, ear infections and asthma flareups. 

While not an infectious disease, Carrier noted that lice outbreaks are far less common these days than they once were thanks to advancements in treatment and prevention. Isolated incidents show up from time to time, but are not a concern to the extent that infectious winter illnesses are. 

In accordance with suggestions by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, the schools have asked any student with a fever or other symptoms to stay home until 24 hours after the fever breaks, the symptoms have subsided or treatments such as antibiotics have been administered. 

Parents should reach out to their child’s school nurse with any questions or concerns they might have.