Families, take note: that cold your child has could be pneumonia. This week, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported an increase in the number of pneumonia infections seen in emergency departments, particularly among children. Cases have steadily increased in recent months in our region.
While school attendance is very important, WS/FCS encourages you to keep students home when they are sick.
According to DHHS, pneumonia cases are generally mild and show up as a chest cold that could include fever, cough or sore throat. Anyone at high risk for severe illness should contact their healthcare provider for additional precautions they can take to stay well.
Help us prevent the spread of viruses by frequently washing your hands, covering your cough, and speaking with a healthcare provider about testing and treatment when sick.