Health Advice

Please see below links to Scottish Government advice on COVID-19 Symptoms

Coronavirus – Jason Leitch Letter on testing and common colds – 31 August 2020

Also a reminder of the advice from the NHS to prevent bugs spreading as well as guidelines for how long pupils are to stay off school:

Bugs Bugs Bugs

It sometimes feels like there are always bugs going around. The commonest sorts of things that affect children in school are coughs, colds and sore throats; chickenpox; diarrhoea and vomiting bugs; hand, foot and mouth disease; threadworms and headlice.

There is lots of information about prevention and treatment :

NHS Inform website (use the A-Z Guide) www.nhsinform.scot
NHS Shetland ‘Self help’ Guide. http://www.shb.scot.nhs.uk/community/documents/NHSShetland-SelfHelpGuide.pdf

Pharmacists are a great source of information, and there are some treatments for children that you can get for free, without a prescription, under the ‘Minor Ailments’ Scheme, including paracetamol, brufen and headlice treatment.

It can be difficult to prevent infections spreading, especially amongst younger children, but really good handwashing can help with things like stomach bugs, coughs and colds, and threadworms.

How long should children stay off school for?

Coughs, colds and sore throats – children should stay off if they are poorly.
Diarrhoea and vomiting – whilst they have symptoms and for 48 hours AFTER the first normal stool and the last episode of vomiting, even if symptoms have stopped and they feel well.
Chickenpox – five days after onset of rash, until crusted over, and child is well.
Hand, foot and mouth disease – children should stay off if they are unwell.
Headlice– don’t need to stay off school but should be treated by wet combing or medicated lotion.
Threadworms – don’t need to stay off school but should be treated.

Please see poster below for support Information for Young People in Shetland