Oak Park Village public health officials are warning parents about a gastroenteritis outbreak at local schools.
In a news release Friday, the Oak Park Village Public Health Department said it is monitoring suspected cases of gastroenteritis within the school community. This disease is commonly known as gastroenteritis and is often characterized by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain.
Fever, headache, and body aches may also occur.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common way to get gastroenteritis is by ingesting contaminated food or water. It can also be transmitted from person to person through contact with contaminated surfaces or through particles in vomit that spread through the air and land on surfaces or into a person's mouth, health officials said. said.
If you or someone you know gets this disease, keep in mind that the main complication is dehydration. If you become ill, you should drink enough fluids to replace fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea.
Health officials said students experiencing vomiting or diarrhea should stay home until their symptoms improve. If a child develops symptoms of gastroenteritis, health authorities advise parents to notify their child's school and stay home until the vomiting or diarrhea has subsided.
To best avoid getting sick, doctors recommend washing your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds whenever your hands are dirty, such as before eating, after using the toilet, or changing a diaper.
Other recommendations include keeping personal items separate in the home, distancing from infected people, and disinfecting hard surfaces.
