Choctaw Nicoma Park Schools
Medication Request and Release Requirements

If it’s necessary that a medication be given during school hours the following requirements must be met:

• Medication will not be administered in school or during school-sponsored activities without a current year Med Request and Release form filled out properly and signed by a legal parent or guardian.
• SELF-CARRY/SELF ADMINISTRATION is only allowed for ASTHMA, DIABETES, ANAPHYLAXIS OR CF ENZYMES
• Prescription and Over the Counter medication must be prescribed by a licensed physician/dentist, and permission is granted for verbal and/or written communication between the school staff and the prescribing physician/dentist regarding this medication.
• Prescription medication must be brought to school in the current original container with the pharmacy label intact. Label must have the student's name, name of medication, dosage and time to be given. If the  medication is not properly labeled it will not be given.
• OTC medication needs to be in a new unopened box, with a doctor’s note. Medication CAN NOT and WILL NOT be accepted in bags or envelopes.
• For student’s safety; the parent/guardian must bring the medication to the school. The school cannot send medications home with students. At the end of the school year, any remaining medication must be picked up by the parent/guardian, on or before the last day of school or, the medication will be destroyed.
• By signing the Medication request and release form, the parent/guardian with legal custody understands that under state law; CNP Board of Education, CNP School District, or employees of the District shall not be liable to the student or the student’s parents/guardians for civil damages for any personal injuries to the student which result from acts of omissions and/or adverse effects of this medication.
•  The parent/guardian agrees to provide medication and any particulars connected with administering medication at their own expense.
•  The parent/guardian will promptly notify the school of any change or discontinuation of this medication and will provide the school with a new prescription bottle and physician order. Written or verbal changes from parent/guardian CAN NOT be accepted.
•  If medication expires during the school year it must be replaced. Expired medications will not be given.
•  Please note that state law 63 O.S. Section 2-101: Prohibits school personnel from administering any CBD products.
•  CNP School staff will not administer Medical Marijuana even if a physician note is provided.
•  CNP school district will allow a LICENSED CAREGIVER with a valid caregiver license to administer Medical Marijuana.

PDF Copy of this document

PDF - Understanding Type 1 Diabetes

 

Parents,

Please note, effective 1 January, 2019 that every medication; prescription and/or over the counter will require a physician’s note specific to the medication being requested to be administered to your child. The note needs to be specific as to the reason for the medication as well as frequency to be given. The physician’s note may be faxed to your child’s school. Please find fax numbers listed below. If you have any questions please feel free to email your school nurse.

melliott@cnpschools.org                             CHS, CMS, CE

kbegley@cnpschools.org                                   WE, NPMS

nbolton@cnpschools.org                                      NPI, NPE   

jpotts@cnpschools.org                                                 GME

Choctaw High School                                     405-390-2275

Freshmen Center                                             405-390-1598

Choctaw Middle School                                 405-390-4439

Choctaw Elementary                                      405-390-3101

Westfall Elementary                                       405-769-4365

Nicoma Park Middle School                          405-769-9355

Griffith Meridian Elementary (Prk-2)              405-390-2218

Griffith Meridian Elementary (3-5)                 405-390-4429

Nicoma Park Elementary                                405-769-5067

Nicoma Park Intermediate                              405-769-6271

Fill out and return to school with a NEW UNOPENED CONTAINER of age and dose appropriate medication valid for the current school year.  A new form is required yearly. 

MEDICATION REQUEST AND RELEASE FORM

Dear Parents or Guardians, 
We are writing to inform you about a new school health program that will make schools safer for students with asthma.  This year Oklahoma passed a new law that allows your child’s school to maintain and administer an albuterol inhaler to treat students who experience sudden life- threatening respiratory distress while at school.  Albuterol is an inhaled medication that quickly opens the tubes that move air into and out of the lungs making it easier to breathe.  This  medication is safe and effective.  Because an asthma attack can happen at any time, having quick access to albuterol is important to make schools safe for children with asthma.

Several personnel from your child’s school will be trained to quickly and safely respond to respiratory emergencies.  While school staff will make every effort to contact parents before giving albuterol, the law allows them to administer albuterol in an emergency without prior  parental contact.  

If your child has asthma, we urge you to notify your child’s school and provide them with an  asthma action plan from your child’s doctor.  Because the stock albuterol inhaler is not intended to replace a child’s personal inhaler, we also encourage you to send a personal albuterol inhaler for use at school if your child has asthma.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school’s health office. 

SUBCHAPTER 1. CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS - PDF

310:535-1-2. Criteria for immunizations required

(a)     Each child shall present certification that he or she has received or is receiving the immunizations as specified below before he or she is admitted to any public, private, or parochial school.

(b)     Certification shall include the following:

(1)          Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTP/DTaP) vaccine in five doses unless the fourth dose is received on or after the fourth birthday in which case only four doses are required. If the doses are not completed by the seventh birthday, the series must be completed with Adult Td vaccine and/or Tdap vaccine based on the individual's age at the time the first dose was received and age at the time the series is completed and beginning with the fall 2011-12 school year one dose of Tdap vaccine for students entering the seventh grade. Each year following the 2011-12 school year, the Tdap requirement shall be extended one grade level so that in the 2016-17 school year and all subsequent school years, students in grades seven through twelve shall be required to have received one dose of Tdap vaccine.

(2)          Poliomyelitis vaccine in four doses unless the last dose is on or after the fourth birthday in which case only three doses are required. If the doses are not started or completed by the eighteenth birthday, no additional doses are required.

(3)          Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine with the first dose on or after the first birthday and the second dose at least twenty-eight days thereafter for children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade in the school year beginning in 1998. In the school year beginning in 1999, this requirement shall apply to the children through the ninth grade. Each year thereafter the requirement shall be extended one grade level so that in the school year beginning in 2002, children in all grades shall be required to have the second dose of vaccine.

(4)          Hepatitis B vaccine in three doses for students of any age or two doses for students eleven through fifteen years of age who complete the alternative dosage schedule providing that the alternative schedule is fully documented. Such documentation must include the name of the vaccine and the dosage received for each dose of that vaccine:

(A)     before entering seventh and eighth grades in 1998. In the school year beginning in 1999, this requirement shall apply to the children entering the seventh through ninth grades. Each year thereafter the requirement shall be extended one grade level so that in the school year beginning in 2002, children in grades seven through twelve shall be required to have the three doses of the vaccine.

(B)     before entering kindergarten in 1998. In the school year beginning in 1999, this requirement shall apply to the children entering kindergarten and first grade. Each year thereafter the requirement shall be extended one grade level so that in the school year beginning in 2004, all children entering school shall be required to have the three doses of the vaccine.

(5)          Hepatitis A vaccine in two doses with the first dose on or after the first birthday and the second dose six to eighteen calendar months later:

(A)     before entering kindergarten in 1998. In the school year beginning in 1999, this requirement shall apply to the children entering kindergarten and first grade. Each year thereafter the requirement shall be extended one grade level so that in the school year beginning in 2004, all children entering school shall be required to have the two doses of the vaccine.

(B)     before entering grade seven in 1998. In the school year beginning in 1999, this requirement shall apply to the children entering the seventh and eighth grade. Each year thereafter the requirement shall be extended one grade level so that in the school year beginning in 2003, children in grades seven through twelve shall be required to have the two doses of the vaccine.

(6)          Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine in one dose on or after the first birthday: before entering kindergarten in 1998. In lieu of vaccination, a parent's statement of a history of the disease chickenpox will be accepted. In the school year beginning in 1999, this requirement shall apply to the children entering kindergarten and first grade. Each year thereafter the requirement shall be extended one grade level so that in the school year beginning in 2010, all children entering school shall be required to have the vaccine or a parent's statement of a history of the disease chickenpox.

(c)     The minimum intervals between doses and minimum ages for doses shall be as follows:

(1)          DTP/DTaP:

(A)     First and second dose - 4 weeks
(B)     Second and third dose - 4 weeks
(C)     Third and fourth dose - 4 months
(D)     Fourth and fifth dose - 6 months
(E)     For all fifth doses given after January 1, 2003 the minimum age for the fifth dose is 4 years of age

(2)          Polio:

(A)     First and second dose - 4 weeks
(B)     Second and third dose - 4 weeks
(C)     Third and fourth dose - 4 weeks

(3)          MMR: First and second dose - 4 weeks

(4)          Hepatitis B 3-dose series:

(A)     First and second dose - 1 month (4 weeks)
(B)     Second and third dose - 2 months (8 weeks), and the third dose at least 4 months (16 weeks) after first dose, and the third dose not before 24 weeks of age

(5)          Hepatitis B 2-dose series: First and second dose - 4 months

(6)          Hepatitis A: First and second dose -- 6 months and for all doses given on or after January 1, 2003, 6 months will be defined as 6 calendar months

(7)          Four day grace period: Vaccine doses administered 4 days or less before the minimum intervals or ages listed in the preceding sections will be counted as valid.

(d)     A child, through his parent or guardian, may apply for an exemption from this requirement by submitting a form to the school. The school shall maintain a copy of the application in the child's records and send a copy to the Department for approval.

(1)          A request for exemption for medical reasons shall contain a certificate signed by a physician stating that the physical condition of the child is such that the immunization would endanger the life or health of the child and that the child should be exempt for immunization.

(2)          A request for exemption for religious or other personal reasons shall contain a signed written statement from the parent or guardian stating a summary of the objections. Lost or unobtainable immunization records are not a ground for personal exemption.

(e)     A child participating in a pre-kindergarten school program shall have received or be in the process of receiving the appropriate immunization for the listed diseases based on the child's age.

(f)     The Department may grant exemptions or substitutions in the immunization schedule based on a medical history of a physical condition such that the immunization would endanger the life or health of the child or a medical history stating the child is likely to be immune as a result of having had a vaccine-preventable disease if the following are met:

(1)          A history of having had diphtheria and/or tetanus is not acceptable as proof of immunity since infection with diphtheria or tetanus may not render an individual immune to either of these diseases,

(2)          A history of having had polio, pertussis, rubella, mumps, hepatitis B, or hepatitis A must be supported by laboratory evidence to be acceptable as proof of immunity to these diseases,

(3)          A history of having had measles must be accompanied by a statement from a physician, public health authority, or laboratory evidence to be acceptable as proof of immunity to measles,

(4)          A parental history of having had varicella is acceptable evidence of immunity to varicella.

(g)     Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine is not a requirement for children attending pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, or school.

(h)     In some circumstances, the United States Food and Drug Administration may approve the use of an alternative dosage schedule for an existing vaccine. These alternative schedules may be used to meet the requirements only when the alternative schedule is fully documented. Such documentation must include the name of the vaccine and dosage received for each dose of that vaccine.

What is the Requirement? PDF
One dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine will be required for all students entering the
7th grade beginning with the fall semester of the 2011-2012 school year. Proof of immunization must be
submitted before a student is allowed to enter the seventh grade; no grace period is allowed.
Proof of immunization consists of:

• · A record of Tdap vaccination which includes the name of the vaccine and the date of vaccine
• administration signed or stamped by a doctor, nurse, clinic or other health care provider, or a
• record from the Oklahoma State Immunization Information System (OSIIS).
• Or
• · A record of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccination at 7 years of age or older.

Both Tdap and DTaP provide protection against the same diseases. The major difference between the
two vaccines is the age group for which they are licensed. DTaP is given to children younger than 7
years of age and Tdap is given to children, adolescents, and adults 7 years of age and older.
Students who have already received a dose of Td (tetanus and diphtheria vaccine) at age 7 years or
older must still receive a dose of Tdap. There is no minimum amount of time one needs to wait between
receiving Td and Tdap.

Implementation
The Tdap requirement will be implemented incrementally over a six year period. The requirement will
expand from 7th grade the first year of implementation to 7th through 12th grade by the sixth year of
implementation (2016-2017 school year). The following table illustrates implementation of the Tdap
requirement.

School Year Grades affected by Tdap Requirement
2011-2012 Grade 7
2012-2013 Grades 7 and 8
2013-2014 Grades 7, 8, and 9
2014-2015 Grades 7, 8, 9, and 10
2015-2016 Grades 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11
2016-2017 Grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12

Exemptions
Oklahoma law allows for immunization exemptions if a student has a valid medical, religious or
philosophic reason for not being vaccinated. A new exemption form for Tdap is not needed for students
with existing DTaP exemptions on file.
All schools should maintain a small supply of exemption certificates (Oklahoma Department of Health
Form 216-A) for parents who request an exemption to any or all vaccines. The latest version of the
exemption certificate is dated 11/08. Requests for forms may be made to the Immunization Service by
fax (405) 271-6133 or email: immunize@health.ok.gov.

Why we need a Tdap requirement:
Tdap is a vaccine used to boost immunity to pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, and diphtheria. A dose
of Tdap is recommended for all adolescents at age 11-12 years because protection provided by the
DTaP shots they received as children wears off after 5 to 10 years.

• Immunity to whooping cough wears off over time. Preteens, teenagers, and adults are at risk for whooping cough, tetanus, and diphtheria 5 to 10 years after their last DTaP shot.
• Whooping cough has been increasing in the United States especially among teens (10–19 years of age) and babies younger than 6 months of age. In 2010, several states reported an increase in whooping cough cases, including a statewide epidemic in California.
  • California reported over 7,000 cases of whooping cough and 10 deaths in babies in 2010.
  • Texas reported more than 2,000 cases. 
• High immunization levels will help prevent an increase in the number of cases of whooping cough in Oklahoma.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is an illness that causes coughing fits so intense and rapid that the air is gone from the lungs and patients have difficulty breathing. The lack of oxygen to the brain during coughing fits may lead to brain damage, especially in babies.

Although whooping cough is usually a mild disease in adolescents, it can be serious for people of any age. Whooping cough can place a significant burden on families, as a person with whooping cough may be asked to stay home from work or school while receiving at least 5 days of antibiotic treatment so they won’t spread the disease to others. Most deaths occur in babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated.

Tdap Recommendations for Adults
One dose of Tdap is also recommended for adults, especially those having close contact with infants.Teachers and school personnel should consider getting this vaccine.

Sources of Additional Information:
Adolescent Vaccination.Org
http://www.adolescentvaccination.org/
http://www.adolescentvaccination.org/doc/fact_sheet.pdf
http://www.adolescentvaccination.org/doc/primary_vaccine_fact_sheet.pdf

Vaccines for Teens NBA and WNBA Cares: http://www.vaccinesforteens.net/index.html

Oklahoma State Department of Health, Acute Disease Service
Public Health Fact Sheet on Pertussis:
http://www.ok.gov/health/documents/Pertussis%202010.pdf
Public Health Fact Sheet on Tetanus
http://www.ok.gov/health/documents/Tetanus.2006.pdf
Public Health Fact Sheet on Diphtheria
http://www.ok.gov/health/Disease,_Prevention,_Preparedness/Acute_Disease_Service/Disease_Information/Dipthe
ria.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site:
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccination: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pertussis/default.htm

Information for Parents: PDF

New Tdap Vaccine Requirement

For Students Entering 7th Grade for the 2021-2022 School Year

Oklahoma’s school immunization requirements state that all students entering the seventh grade beginning with the 2011-2012 school year will be required to have one dose of Tdap vaccine. The following information should help to answer your questions about the new requirement.

Q: What is Tdap vaccine?

A: Tdap is a vaccine used to boost immunity to pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, and diphtheria. A dose of Tdap is recommended for all adolescents at age 11-12 years because protection provided by the DTaP shots they received as children wears off after 5 to 10 years.

Q: What is whooping cough?

A: Whooping cough, or pertussis, is an illness that causes coughing fits so intense and rapid that patients have difficulty breathing. The lack of oxygen to the brain during coughing fits may lead to brain damage, especially in babies.

Although whooping cough is usually a mild disease in adolescents, it can be serious for people of any age. Whooping cough can place a significant burden on families, as a person with whooping cough may be asked to stay home from work or school for at least 5 days while taking antibiotic treatment so they won’t spread the disease to others. Most deaths occur in babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated.

Q: Why do we need a Tdap requirement?

A: We need a Tdap requirement for 3 main reasons:

·         Immunity to whooping cough wears off over time. Preteens, teenagers, and adults are at risk for whooping cough, tetanus, and diphtheria 5 to 10 years after their last DTaP shot.

·         Whooping cough has been increasing in the United States especially among teens (10– 19 years of age) and babies younger than 6 months of age. In 2010, several states reported an increase in whooping cough cases including a statewide epidemic in California.

o    California reported over 7,000 cases of whooping cough and 10 deaths in babies in 2010.

o    Texas reported more than 2,000 cases.

·         High immunization levels will help prevent an increase in the number of cases of whooping cough in Oklahoma.

Q: What is the deadline for students to get the Tdap vaccine?

A; Oklahoma’s school law states that Tdap is required for all students attending the 7th grade beginning with the fall 2011 semester, so the deadline is the first day of school of the 2011-2012 school year.

Q: If my child already had whooping cough, should he or she still get the Tdap vaccine?

A: Yes, adolescents who have had whooping cough should receive Tdap according to the routine recommendations because individuals can contract the disease again. The length of protection, or immunity, provided by the disease is unknown. Having had the disease is not an exception to the Tdap requirement.

Q: Where can I get the Tdap vaccine for my child?

A: Tdap vaccine is available in most doctor’s offices, clinics, and county health departments. Be sure to get a copy of the vaccination record to take to your child’s school and for your records.

Q: Does Tdap vaccine contain thimerosal?

A: No. There are two brands of Tdap vaccine on the market, Boostrix® and ADACEL® and neither of these vaccines contains thimerosal.

Q: Does Tdap vaccine cause any reactions?

A: Yes, the most common reactions following Tdap are pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site. Other problems reported after Tdap vaccination include: tiredness, fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomachache. No severe problems following Tdap vaccination were seen in adolescents when the vaccine was tested before it was licensed.

Q: How do the vaccine side effects compare to the effects of the diseases?

A: Compared to the vaccine, the effects of the diseases are much more severe, even including death.

These are some of the problems caused by tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis diseases:

Tetanus

• Lockjaw (spasms of the jaw muscles) which can lead to trouble breathing
• Respiratory failure
• Heart failure
• Prolonged, painful spasms of the major muscles of the body which can lead to fractures of the spine or leg and arm bones
• Acute kidney failure
• Coma
• Death: 11 out of every 100 reported cases

Whooping cough

• Pneumonia
• Seizures
• Permanent brain damage
• ·Death: 2 out of every 1,000 reported cases

Diphtheria

• Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart which can cause heart failure)
• Airway obstruction
• Death: 5 to 10 out of every 100 people with diphtheria die from it

Q: If a student has received the 5 dose series of DTaP, does he or she still need to have a dose of Tdap before entering 7th grade?

A: Yes, the student must receive a booster does of Tdap to be in compliance with Oklahoma immunization requirements.

Q: Are exemptions to Tdap allowed?

A: Yes, exemptions to the Tdap requirement are allowed for medical, religious or personal reasons. Schools have a supply of exemption certificates for parents who request them.

Q: What are the medical reasons for not giving a dose of Tdap?

A: People who should not receive Tdap for medical reasons include people of any age who have:

• Ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a dose of DTaP, DTP, DT, or Td,
• Experienced a coma, or long or multiple seizures within 7 days after receiving a dose of DTaP or DTP vaccine unless a cause other than the vaccine was found.

Q: How can I get more information about the Tdap vaccine and the new requirement?

A: For MORE information, visit the Immunization Service web page at: http://www.ok.gov/health/Disease,_Prevention,_Preparedness/Immunizations/ , call the Immunization Service at 1-800-234-6196 or 405-2714073 or ask your regular doctor, nurse or medical clinic.

Oklahoma law requires parents/guardians of all children attending school, child care facilities, and Head Start programs in this state to submit immunization documentation. This documentation is required before the child is allowed to enter or attend school, child care or Head Start. 
 

Take one or more of the following to school:

• A record of your child's vaccinations.
• A record showing your child is in the process of receiving the required vaccines.

Additionally:

• Students must complete the vaccines on schedule.  
• Obtain a schedule to complete the vaccines from your health care provider or clinic and give a copy to the school.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE PORTAL AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR REQUEST

If a Vaccination Exemption is needed:

• Oklahoma law allows exemptions for medical, religious or personal reasons. 
• There is no legal penalty for parents/guardians who obtain exemptions for these reasons. However, unvaccinated children are at greater risk of catching diseases and might be excluded from school, child care or Head Start programs for the duration of a disease outbreak if one occurs. 
• Children with specific medical contraindications to any or all immunizations may be allowed to attend if the medical reason is stated and this statement is signed by a licensed physician and submitted to the school, child care facility or Head Start program. Children whose parents object to immunizations based on religious teachings or personal beliefs may seek an exemption. 
• Lost immunization records are not grounds for an exemption. Parents who have lost their child’s records should contact their local health department or family physician/health care provider. The nurse or doctor can interpret past immunization history, provide any needed immunizations, and create a record for the parent that can then be submitted to the school, child care facility or Head Start program and transcribed for the student’s record.  
• In the case of a disease outbreak in a school, representatives of the Oklahoma State Department of Health or local health department will visit the school, thoroughly review student immunization records, and make recommendations to the Commissioner of Health on whether students with exemptions should be excluded from school or school functions for the duration of the outbreak. 
• The Commissioner of Health has the authority to exclude students with exemptions from school for the duration of a disease outbreak. This decision is usually based on the risk of disease transmission in the facility. The risk of transmission depends on the characteristics of the disease and the potential number of susceptible people who could be exposed to it. 

Process to Submit an Online Immunization Exemption Request

CLICK TO ACCESS WEBSITE PORTAL

1. Create an account.
2. Submit your exemption online through the portal.
3. Upon receiving your completed request, Immunization Service will review it and either approve or deny it within 1-3 Business Days.
4. Upon Immunization Service's approval of your exemption request, you will receive an email notice requiring you to log back into the portal to download the approved exemption certificate. 
5. Parents/Guardians will be responsible for providing the approved exemption certificate to their child's school, child care facility or Head Start program.
   1. County health departments and private doctors do not provide exemption certificates.
   2. Exemption submissions and certificates cannot be submitted or obtained in-person at the Oklahoma State Department of Health. 
   3. DISCLAIMER: The Immunization Service reviews all exemptions and approves or disapproves them. If the exemption is not approved, the parent/guardian must complete and submit another exemption request or present an immunization record for the child to attend school, child care or Head Start program.

From the Oklahoma State Department of Health
Public Health Fact Sheet
Meningitis Fact Sheet PDF

What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease is a disease caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, also called meningococcus. This bacteria can infect the blood, causing septicemia. It can also infect the covering of the brain and spinal cord, causing meningitis.

How is this disease spread?

Meningococcal disease spreads by direct contact with the saliva or with respiratory droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person.

Who is at risk of getting this disease?

Some groups of people have a higher risk of meningococcal disease, such as first year college students living in dormitories or new military recruits living in barracks. Other persons at increased risk include household contacts of a person known to have had this disease, immunocompromised people, people without a spleen, and people traveling to parts of the world where meningococcal disease is more common. Exposure to tobacco smoke and having a concurrent upper respiratory infection also increase the risk of meningococcal disease. Infants are at highest risk, but rates decrease after infancy and then increase in adolescence and young adulthood.

What are the symptoms?

Ten percent or more of people are thought to be carrying Neisseria meningitidis in their nose and throat without being ill, which is called “asymptomatic carriage”. Of these people, about 1% can develop illness, which may be meningitis or a bloodstream infection called septicemia or meningococcemia. As described above, some people can carry the bacteria in their nose and throat without ever becoming ill. Signs of illness may include fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and a rash. People who develop meningitis can have fever, intense headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, and extreme sensitivity to light. It is important to seek care from a healthcare provider as soon as possible if these symptoms appear. Meningococcal disease has a 15% risk of death if it is not treated promptly.

How soon do the symptoms appear?

The symptoms may appear two to ten days after infection, but usually within three to four days.

What is the treatment for meningococcal disease?

Antibiotics, such as penicillin or a cephalosporin such as ceftriaxone, are used to treat meningococcal disease.

Should people who have been around a person infected with meningococcal disease receive treatment?

When meningococcal disease occurs in one person, only the people who have had recent close contact with that person’s respiratory secretions are recommended to receive antibiotics. These include household members, intimate contacts, health care personnel performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, day care center playmates, etc. Such people are usually advised to obtain a prescription for a specific antibiotic (rifampin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, or azithromycin) from their physician. The health department will contact the individuals who are recommended to receive antibiotics, and advise them of options to obtain antibiotics. Casual contacts including classmates, co-workers, or those in a factory setting are not at increased risk of disease when a single person has meningococcal illness. When clusters or outbreaks occur, the health department may expand the recommendations for which groups need to receive antibiotics to prevent possible spread. Antibiotics do not protect people from future exposure to Neisseria meningitidis.

Is there a vaccine to prevent meningococcal disease?

Three types of meningococcal vaccines are available in the United States. They are effective against four of the five most common disease-causing types of meningococcal disease: A, C, Y, and W-135. An additional vaccine is now available that protects against serogroup B, but is currently only licensed for high-risk children over ten years of age. Consult with your healthcare provider or the local health department about receiving the vaccine.

Use this guideline to help you determine if your child should or should not attend school when ill.

1. If a child has a temperature of 100° F or higher, your child is too sick for school.  Keep them home until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of anti-fever medications. 
2. If a child has 3 or more loose bowel movements, even if there are no other signs of illness, your child is too sick for school.  Any vomiting is a reason to send a child home of keep a child home.  Keep them home until they are vomit and diarrhea-free for 24 hours. 
3. Rash.  There are different rules for returning to school depending on the cause of the rash.  Children with contagious rashes, such as chicken pox and measles, need to be kept home.  If your child has a rash AND a fever, keep them at home and talk with your healthcare provider.
4. Cough or sore throat.  Children with a cough or sore throat should be watched closely.  If the cough or sore throat becomes worse or if the child develops a fever, the child is too sick for school.
5. Children with other communicable conditions such as head lice, ringworm, or scabies may need to be kept home from school.  Children may need to see a healthcare provider for treatment. 

Talk to your school nurse or school administration about exclusion policies for these and other illnesses.