Disease Factsheets — School Health Matters

How to use these factsheets: Click the colored buttons below each disease title to switch between Elementary, Middle School, and High School versions. Each level uses age-appropriate language and detail.

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Influenza (The Flu)

A contagious respiratory virus — one of the most common causes of school absences in the U.S.

Elementary Simple language for grades K–5

What Is the Flu?

How Does It Spread?

When a sick person sneezes or coughs near you
Touching your face after touching something a sick person touched
Being close to someone who is sick

How Will You Feel?

High fever and chills
Body aches and feeling very tired
Sore throat and runny nose
Cough and sometimes a stomachache

Why Does It Matter at School?

How to Stay Safe!

Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds
Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow
Stay home if you feel sick
Get your flu shot every year!

Middle School More detail for grades 6–8

What Is Influenza?

How Does It Spread?

Respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes travel through the air
Touching contaminated surfaces then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
Close contact with an infected person (within 6 feet)
Infected people can spread it 1 day before symptoms even start

Common Symptoms

Sudden high fever (100–104°F) and severe chills
Intense muscle aches and extreme fatigue
Dry cough, sore throat, and headache
Nausea or vomiting (more common in children)

Why It Matters in Schools

Prevention

Get the annual flu vaccine — it's the best protection
Wash hands frequently with soap and water
Stay home when sick and return only after 24 hours fever-free
Avoid sharing drinks, food, or utensils with others

High School Scientific detail for grades 9–12

Pathogen & Disease Overview

Transmission Dynamics

Primary route: respiratory droplets (>5 µm) expelled when coughing or sneezing
Secondary route: contact transmission via contaminated surfaces (fomites)
Incubation period: 1–4 days; infectious 1 day before and up to 7 days after onset
R₀ of seasonal flu is approximately 2–3 in school-age populations

Clinical Presentation

Abrupt onset of fever, myalgia, and malaise — distinguishes flu from common cold
Upper respiratory: pharyngitis, rhinorrhea, non-productive cough
Complications include pneumonia, otitis media, and febrile seizures in children
Most healthy individuals recover in 3–7 days; high-risk groups face serious illness

Epidemiological Significance in Schools

Prevention & Public Health Measures

Annual influenza vaccination for all individuals ≥6 months (AAP & CDC recommendation)
Antiviral treatment: oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir within 48 hours of onset
Non-pharmaceutical interventions: hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, illness exclusion
Improved classroom ventilation reduces transmission risk by up to 74% (CDC IPC Brief)

Student Model

Influenza Virus Structure Model

A handmade physical model showing the viral envelope, hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), M2 ion channel, RNA segments, and RNP complex — built for this ISM project.

View Full Model

COVID-19

Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus — a major disruptor of school operations globally since 2020.

Elementary Simple language for grades K–5

What Is COVID-19?

How Does It Spread?

Breathing in air from a sick person nearby
Talking, coughing, or sneezing without covering your mouth
Being in a room without fresh air for a long time

How Will You Feel?

Fever and feeling tired
Runny nose, cough, or sore throat
Headache or body aches
Some people lose their sense of smell or taste

Why Does It Matter at School?

How to Stay Safe!

Wash your hands often with soap
Stay home if you feel sick
Open windows to let fresh air in
Talk to a parent about the COVID vaccine

Middle School More detail for grades 6–8

What Is COVID-19?

How Does It Spread?

Airborne transmission: tiny aerosol particles linger in the air, especially in poorly ventilated rooms
Respiratory droplets from talking, coughing, sneezing, or singing
Close contact with infected individuals (within 6 feet for 15+ minutes)
Infected people can spread it before they even feel sick (presymptomatic spread)

Common Symptoms

Fever, fatigue, and muscle aches
Cough, sore throat, and runny nose
Loss of taste or smell (more common with earlier variants)
Shortness of breath or chest tightness in more severe cases

Why It Matters in Schools

Prevention

Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters
Improve ventilation: open windows, use air purifiers with HEPA filters
Stay home when sick and test before returning to school
Practice good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette

High School Scientific detail for grades 9–12

Pathogen & Disease Overview

Transmission Dynamics

Primarily airborne via aerosols — especially in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces
R₀ of Omicron estimated at 8–15, among the highest of any known respiratory virus
Presymptomatic and asymptomatic spread are major drivers in school settings
Incubation period: 2–5 days for recent variants

Clinical Presentation

Ranges from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Common: fever, cough, fatigue, myalgia, headache, sore throat
Anosmia/ageusia (loss of smell/taste) — hallmark of earlier variants
Long COVID: persistent fatigue, cognitive impairment, and dyspnea lasting weeks to months post-infection

Epidemiological Significance in Schools

Prevention & Mitigation Strategies

Updated COVID-19 mRNA vaccines targeting current variants (annual boosters recommended)
Ventilation: ASHRAE standards recommend ≥6 air changes per hour in classrooms
Rapid antigen testing for symptomatic individuals before school return
Layered approach: vaccination + ventilation + hygiene + exclusion policies

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

The leading cause of lower respiratory infection and infant hospitalization in the United States.

Elementary Simple language for grades K–5

What Is RSV?

How Does It Spread?

Coughing and sneezing near others
Touching your face after touching a sick person's hands or toys
Sharing cups, forks, or straws with a sick person

How Will You Feel?

Stuffy or runny nose
Coughing and sneezing
Mild fever
Feeling tired and not wanting to eat much

Why Does It Matter at School?

How to Stay Safe!

Wash your hands before eating and after blowing your nose
Cover your cough with your elbow
Don't share food or drinks
Stay home if you feel sick

Middle School More detail for grades 6–8

What Is RSV?

How Does It Spread?

Direct contact: touching an infected person and then touching your face
Respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes
Contaminated surfaces: RSV can survive on hard surfaces for several hours
Infected people are contagious for 3–8 days, sometimes longer in young children

Common Symptoms

Runny nose and congestion
Cough and low-grade fever
Wheezing or noisy breathing (especially in young children)
Fatigue and decreased appetite

Why It Matters in Schools

Prevention

Wash hands frequently — soap is more effective than hand sanitizer against RSV
Avoid close contact with sick individuals during RSV season (fall–winter)
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at school
Newborns can receive nirsevimab (Beyfortus) for protection — talk to a doctor

High School Scientific detail for grades 9–12

Pathogen & Disease Overview

Transmission Dynamics

Transmitted via large respiratory droplets and direct contact with secretions
RSV can survive on hard surfaces for 4–7 hours and on hands for 30 minutes
R₀ estimated at 2–4; peaks in fall–winter in temperate climates
Incubation period: 4–6 days; infectious for 3–8 days (longer in immunocompromised individuals)

Clinical Presentation

In older children/adults: mild upper respiratory illness (URI) — cold-like symptoms
In infants: bronchiolitis with wheezing, tachypnea, and hypoxia
In high-risk groups: can progress to pneumonia and respiratory failure
20–30% of infected young children develop lower respiratory tract involvement

Epidemiological Significance in Schools

Prevention & Immunization

Nirsevimab (Beyfortus): monoclonal antibody prophylaxis for infants — recommended by AAP & CDC
RSVpreF maternal vaccine protects newborns through transplacental antibody transfer
No antiviral treatment approved for general use; supportive care only
Hand hygiene, contact precautions, and cohorting of sick students reduce institutional spread

Student Model

Bacterial Cell Structure Model

A handmade cross-section model showing flagellum, pili, capsule, cell wall, cytoplasm, nucleoid DNA, plasmid, and ribosomes — the very structures relevant to understanding bacterial diseases like Pertussis.

View Full Model

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

A highly contagious bacterial infection known for intense coughing fits — preventable through vaccination.

Elementary Simple language for grades K–5

What Is Whooping Cough?

How Does It Spread?

Breathing in the germs when a sick person coughs or sneezes near you
Being close to someone who is sick and doesn't know it yet
It spreads very easily — one sick person can make many others sick

How Will You Feel?

Starts like a cold: runny nose and mild cough
Then coughing gets really bad — lots of coughing fits in a row
A 'whoop' sound when trying to breathe after coughing
Coughing so hard you might throw up

Why Does It Matter at School?

How to Stay Safe!

Get the DTaP vaccine — it protects against whooping cough!
Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze
Wash your hands often
Stay home if you have a bad cough and tell a grown-up

Middle School More detail for grades 6–8

What Is Pertussis?

How Does It Spread?

Airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing are the primary route
Highly contagious: one infected person can infect 12–17 unprotected people
People are most contagious in the first 2 weeks before the severe cough starts
Adolescents and adults with waning vaccine immunity are a major source of spread

Three Stages of Illness

Stage 1 – Catarrhal (1–2 weeks): cold-like symptoms, most contagious stage
Stage 2 – Paroxysmal (1–6 weeks): violent coughing fits, the 'whoop,' vomiting
Stage 3 – Convalescent (weeks to months): gradual recovery, cough slowly fades

Why It Matters in Schools

Prevention

Tdap booster vaccine at age 11–12 is strongly recommended for all teens
Antibiotic treatment (azithromycin) can reduce contagiousness if started early
Stay home for at least 5 days after starting antibiotics
Cover coughs and practice good hand hygiene

High School Scientific detail for grades 9–12

Pathogen & Disease Overview

Transmission Dynamics

Airborne droplet transmission; R₀ of 12–17 — one of the highest of any known pathogen
Incubation period: 7–21 days; most contagious during the catarrhal stage
Waning immunity in adolescents makes them a major reservoir for transmission
Antibiotics reduce contagiousness within 5 days but do not shorten illness duration significantly

Clinical Stages

Catarrhal (1–2 weeks): rhinorrhea, low-grade fever, mild cough — highest transmissibility
Paroxysmal (1–6 weeks): severe coughing paroxysms, inspiratory 'whoop,' post-tussive vomiting, cyanosis in infants
Convalescent (weeks–months): gradual resolution; cough may recur with other respiratory infections
Complications: pneumonia, seizures, encephalopathy, rib fractures (adults); death risk highest in infants <1 year

Epidemiological Significance in Schools

Prevention & Treatment

DTaP series (childhood) and Tdap booster at age 11–12; repeat every 10 years
Treatment: macrolide antibiotics (azithromycin preferred); reduces contagiousness but not paroxysmal stage duration
Post-exposure prophylaxis for close contacts, especially household members with infants
School exclusion: infected students must stay home until 5 days of antibiotic therapy are completed

Norovirus

The most common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in the U.S. — spreads rapidly in school and cafeteria settings.

Elementary Simple language for grades K–5

What Is Norovirus?

How Does It Spread?

Touching something a sick person touched, then touching your mouth
Eating food or drinking drinks that have the germ on them
Being near someone who is throwing up

How Will You Feel?

Sudden stomach pain and nausea
Throwing up (vomiting)
Diarrhea
Feeling tired, achy, and sometimes having a low fever

Why Does It Matter at School?

How to Stay Safe!

Wash your hands with soap after using the bathroom and before eating
Don't share food, drinks, or utensils
Stay home if you're sick and for 2 days after you feel better
Tell an adult if you feel sick at school

Middle School More detail for grades 6–8

What Is Norovirus?

How Does It Spread?

Fecal-oral route: tiny particles of the virus from an infected person's stool or vomit reach your mouth
Contaminated food or water (often salads, fruits, shellfish prepared by infected handlers)
Touching contaminated surfaces (door handles, lunch trays) then touching your face
As few as 18 viral particles are enough to cause infection — it is extremely contagious

Common Symptoms

Sudden onset of nausea and vomiting (often the first sign)
Watery diarrhea and stomach cramps
Low-grade fever, headache, and body aches
Symptoms usually last 1–3 days; dehydration is the main risk

Why It Matters in Schools

Prevention

Wash hands with soap and water — hand sanitizer alone is NOT enough for norovirus
Stay home for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop
Disinfect surfaces with bleach-based cleaners — norovirus resists many other disinfectants
Don't prepare food for others while sick or for 2 days after recovery

High School Scientific detail for grades 9–12

Pathogen & Disease Overview

Transmission Dynamics

Fecal-oral route is primary; infectious dose is extremely low (≥18 viral particles)
Vomiting creates aerosols containing infectious particles that can spread up to several feet
Incubation period: 12–48 hours; contagious from onset through 48+ hours after symptoms resolve
Survives on surfaces for days; resists alcohol, heat up to 60°C, and many standard disinfectants

Clinical Presentation

Acute onset gastroenteritis: nausea, projectile vomiting, watery (non-bloody) diarrhea
Abdominal cramps, myalgia, headache, low-grade fever
Self-limiting illness lasting 1–3 days in immunocompetent individuals
Dehydration is the primary complication; high-risk in elderly, infants, and immunocompromised

Epidemiological Significance in Schools

Prevention & Control

Hand hygiene with soap and water — alcohol gels are ineffective against non-enveloped norovirus
Disinfect surfaces with chlorine bleach (1,000–5,000 ppm); standard quaternary cleaners are insufficient
Strict 48-hour exclusion policy from school after last symptom episode
Cohorting of affected students and deep cleaning of shared spaces during active outbreaks