Illinois State Code requires a physical exam and immunization record for all incoming freshman students be submitted to the LFHS nurse’s office by the first day of school.  The exam should be on the State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination form and must be dated within 12 months of the first day of school of their freshman year. Exam is to be performed by a licensed health care provider (MD, DO, APN, or PA).  Submit record to the nurse’s office by July 1st.  Any student who does not have a physical on file by October 15th will be excluded from school on that date.  We can no longer accept a physician appointment card for a physical scheduled after October 15th.  Sport physicals do not meet the freshman physical requirement.

Illinois School Code will now require student entering 9th grade to have dental examination before May 15th of their freshman school. Year.  Dental exam must have been completed within the 18 months prior to the May 15th deadline.  In addition, all new student to LFSH District 115 will be required to present proof that an eye examination was done.

DO NOT TURN INCOME FRESHMAN PHYSICAL INTO THE ATHLETIC OFFICE.  The Health Office will forward a list of all compliant student s to the Athletic Office in time for the first day of sports.

All students entering 12th grade must show proof of receiving two doses of Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4).  If the first does is administered when the child is 16 years of age or older, then only one dose is required.  Submit records to the LFHS nurse’s office by July 1st.  Any student who does not have the vaccine on file by October 15th will be excluded from school on that date.

From an Illinois high school:  Students must present a copy of their 9th grade physical exam and immunization record to the LFHS nurse’s office within 30 days of their entrance date.  A more current complete physical with updated immunizations is also accepted.  An eye exam performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist dated within one year of the first day of school is also due within 30 days of entrance date.  Sport physicals do not meet this requirement.

From another state or military base:  Students have 30 days to present a copy of their high school physical exam with updated immunizations as long as the form contains all required parts of the Illinois state form (link).  If the previous high school did not require a physical, students have 30 days to submit a current physical and immunization record that must be dated within 12 months of the first day of school for the new student and must contain all required parts of the Illinois state form.  An eye exam performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist dated within one year of the first day of school is also required.  Submit records to the LFHS nurse’s office within 30 days of entrance date.  Sport physicals do not meet this requirement.

From another country:  Students have 30 days to complete a physical exam with updated immunizations on the Illinois state form (link).  If submitting a prior physical, the exam must be dated within 12 months of the first of school for the new student and must contain all required parts of the Illinois state form.  An eye exam performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist dated within one year of the first day of school is also required.  Submit records to the LFHS nurse’s office within 30 days of entrance date.  A sport physical does not meet this requirement.

Students with Seizures, Severe Allergies or Asthma

As a parent or guardian, you are responsible for informing the Health Office if your child has seizures, allergies or asthma.  By law, we are required to have an annual Seizure/Allergy/Asthma Action Plan that is signed by a physician on file in the nurse’s office.  Likewise, the Medication Authorization Form must be submitted.  The following are required in the Health Office:

1. Seizure, Allergy or Asthma Action Plan(s)
2. Medication Authorization Form
3. Prescribed medicine in original labeled container.

Information regarding your student’s medical condition cannot be disseminated to teachers without these forms on file.  Your student will be permitted to carry an EpiPen and inhalers with them, provided the aforementioned forms are submitted.

If your student has a severe or life threatening allergy, please remember to inform Nurse Diane Bower at 847-582-7335. If your students allergies require the use of an Epi-pen and Benadryl, please make sure an annually renewed Medication Authorization Form is on file in the Health Office. One Epi-pen should be left in the Health Office and one Epi-pen should be left with your student at all times. Likewise, if a student needs an asthma inhaler, please notify the Health Office and provide Nurse Bower with the appropriate medications. Please call 847-582-7335 if you have any further questions or concerns.

SEASON FOR ALLERGIES/ASTHMA

A recent CDC survey finds that one in five High School students have asthma. Although, temperatures below 32 may eliminate many pollens and weed triggers, indoor substances can also aggravate the allergy/ asthma combination. In addition to dust mites, molds and pet dander, holiday decorations that have been in storage can also be major allergy/asthma triggers.

• Use gas fireplaces instead of woodburning.
• Wash with warm sudsy water all packed away decorations. Rewash when storing them back.
• Avoid scented candles, incense and potpourri.
• Very cold temperatures can be a trigger for asthma. Wear a scarf around the nose and mouth while outside and even in the car till it warms up.

Controlling and preventing symptoms is always preferable to having to treat full blown symptoms.

All parents should be aware that it is in their student's best interest to be vaccinated against bacterial meningitis. The old Menomune vaccine's coverage was only 4-6 years. Therefore, we were only recommending that students receive it in their senior year of high school. The highest incidence of bacterial meningitis is freshman and sophomore year of college.

However, the new vaccine Menactra, has 8-10 years coverage. Therefore, many of the pediatric groups are offering this vaccine to 12-13 year-olds. Please ask your doctor about this for your student. Also, PLEASE be aware that you may receive this vaccination at the Board of Health Immunization Clinic, 2303 Dodge Ave in Waukegan (847-377-8470) from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday. It is also offered at Lake Forest Hospital on the fourth Saturday of every month from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. You are eligible to receive this vaccine for $8.00 if you do not have medical insurance, your medical insurance does not cover vaccinations, or by using Medicaid or Kidcare card. Please call Diane Bower, RN at 847-582-7335 with further questions.

An acute viral infection that is characterized by fever, malaise, sore throat, "swollen glands," enlarged spleen and liver. There is a wide spectrum in the severity of symptoms. Sometimes symptoms may be so mild that many people don't even realize they have had it. Interestingly, 90% of adults will test positive for the Epstein Barr Virus, yet most of those people can't remember having "mono." Adults are often misdiagnosed if they do have mononucleosis when they present with symptoms due to the rarity of infection in the adult population. I am often asked if a person can get mono more than once. True Mononucleosis is thought to be caused by the Epstein Barr Virus. However, other "bugs" can cause similar symptoms; hence the confusion. Dr. Virginia Kaperick, a pediatric hospitalist at Lake Forest Hospital, states that the "greatest majority of cases are caused by EBV(Epstein-Barr Virus). Other pathogens can cause mono-like illness:CMV(Cytomegalovirus), Adenoviruses, HSV(Herpes Simplex Virus), Toxoplasma, etc., Transmission is through saliva of an infected person throughout the duration of symptoms: there is no air or blood transmission. Many healthy people can carry and shed the virus intermittently for life."

The treatment of routine cases would consist of

1. rest according to the degree of illness until the fever is gone.
2. Plenty of liquids.
3. Tylenol or Advil for elevated temperature or discomfort.
4. Warm saline gargles.
5. No contact sports.
6. Antibiotics only if there is a Strep infection which happens in 10-30% of cases.
7. Steroids are only used if there are life threatening threats of airway obstruction

(Recent studies have linked their use to encephalitis and myocarditis.)

Student athletes should only return to sports or PE class when they have been cleared by their doctor. The main concern here is a decreased immune system and an enlarged spleen and liver which could become injured during contact sports.