A recent increase in school absences, mostly attributed to seasonal illness, has been noted by several LHS staff members. Absences can lead to falling behind academically and socially for many students. Such has been the case for many LHS students this flu season.
School nurse Carol Casteel, RN said she had diagnosed between 15 and 20 cases last week, acknowledging there may be many more.
The seasonal influenza virus, which is most active in winter but may persist through spring, is a contagious virus spread by human contact and via the air that most often affects the respiratory system. Though presenting with symptoms like fever, muscle aches and coughing, the flu can lead to pneumonia, infection and dehydration.
The flu has been particularly aggressive this year, being cited as the cause for 460 deaths in Kansas already this season. Additionally, the Center for Disease Control reports that recorded cases of the flu in the United States exceed 25,000.
Casteel recognizes an increase in cases at LHS, noting the flu seems to be worse this year. One possible explanation for the virus’s aggressiveness suggests viral mutation led to ineffective vaccines, leaving many seemingly protected individuals vulnerable to illness.
“I felt like I was dying. I couldn’t breathe, I was vomiting, and I had a fever of 104.5 degrees,” said junior Thelma Frazier, a recovering flu victim who was hospitalized for two days.
Other affected students additionally attest to having sore throats, bad headaches and feeling terrible in general. Though the flu affects the health of students, it also impacts their performance and progress in school, extracurriculars and social settings.
For most students, being sick, which may have upsides like staying home, sleeping in and relaxing all day, means missing classes, homework, tests, sports practice or hanging out with friends.
“Being sick sucks — everyone knows that — just missing school and the things you normally do on the weekends,” junior Ryan Walter said.
Similarly, Frazier expressed the negative effects being sick had on her school work and social life.
“I was quarantined to my house […] I had to wear a mask around everybody, and I couldn’t go outside because the air affected it even more,” Frazier said. “And school-wise I missed a lot of work. I missed like five tests.”
But for some, being sick isn’t just a nuisance; it’s not an option.
Sophomore Sadie Keller, playing the part of Tevye’s daughter, Chava, in the school musical The Fiddler on the Roof, worried about contracting the flu and the effect it would have on her role.
“I think my performance would definitely suffer. I would probably be less focused on my acting because I would be more focused on how I feel,” Keller said. “We’ve spent two months practicing so getting sick in the last couple days would be really bad.”
Students like Keller can take steps to avoid getting sick.
“I’ve been being really cautious about what I eat and not sharing any food or drinks with my friends,” Keller said. “And I’ve been trying to wash my hands a lot and get a lot of sleep.”
Such steps are effective when trying to prevent the flu. Nurse Casteel similarly advises students to wash hands frequently, cover coughs, eat well, stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep and to not share drinks.