Welcome to Ottawa's Clinic

Medication

If your child needs to receive medication during the school year, please fill out the specific medical form(s) and turn them in the first week of school. Forms must be completed yearly. Prescription medication (including inhalers) require a "Request for Admin. of Prescription medication" form signed by the attending physician, including an "Asthma Action Plan" advised by the doctor.  Medication is required to be delivered to the school in the original container by a parent/guardian.

If your child will be carrying an Epipen, you MUST have an UPDATED form signed by the doctor along with the "Food Allergy Plan". If your child will be carrying an inhaler, you MUST have an UPDATED form signed by the doctor along with an Asthma Action Plan.  The forms we have on file at this time, will not be valid for the next school year. Also, please check expiration dates on inhalers, epipens, OTC meds, as well as prescription medications. These medications cannot be dispensed in the school if they have expired. Original prescription information, as well as the student name, must always be included on all prescription bottles. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

When should you keep your child home from school?

Symptom by symptom, here are some guidelines to help you decide whether your child should stay home from school:

Fever

Fever is a common symptom of viral infections, like influenza. If your child's temperature is 100.0 degrees or higher, keep your kid at home. While at home, encourage your child to drink plenty of liquids.  If you have concerns about your child’s health, get in touch with there pediatrician. If there have been cases of flu at school, or if your child came into contact with someone who had it, your pediatrician needs to know. Your doctor may recommend tests and possibly treatment with antiviral drugs. 

A child should be fever-free for 24 hours (without medicine) before returning to school.

Mild Cough/Runny Nose

If there's no fever and the child feels fairly good, school is fine.

Bad Cough/Cold Symptoms

Children with bad coughs need to stay home and possibly see a doctor. It could be a severe cold or possibly bronchitis, flu, or pneumonia. But when the cough improves and the child is feeling better, then it's back to school. Don't wait for the cough to disappear entirely -- that could take a week or longer!

Diarrhea or Vomiting

Keep your child home until the illness is over, and for 24 hours after the last episode (without medicine). Though diarrhea and vomiting are not usually associated with flu, they may sometimes occur with swine flu.

Sore Throat 

A minor sore throat is usually not a problem, but a severe sore throat could be strep throat even if there is no fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache and stomach upset. Keep your child home from school and contact a doctor. Your child needs a special test to determine if it is strep throat. He or she can return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.

Earache

The child needs to see a doctor.

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Keep the child home until a doctor has given the OK to return to school. Pink eye is highly contagious and most cases are caused by a virus, which will not respond to an antibiotic. Bacterial conjunctivitis will require an antibiotic; your doctor will be able to determine if this is the case.

Rash

Children with a skin rash should see a doctor, as this could be one of several infectious diseases. One possibility is impetigo, a bacterial skin infection that is very contagious and requires antibiotic treatment.

Ottawa Health Clinic
(586) 723-6600

Dawn McDonough
Health Aide