Influenza, pneumonia, strep throat, a common cold, you name it, people caught it! The week of Monday the 5th rough Friday the 9th, kids dropped like flies around the school systems. People these days are busy all the time or go to sleep way too late and catch viruses easier than others.

Eighth grader Anna Schieffer said, “I got some flu-ish stuff, probably from drinking out of the schools water fountains.” No one thinks about how many germs there are from touching a door knob, typing on a keyboard at school, touching a desk, or even opening a locker.

Or could the biggest thing be the crazy weather? Kody Dormire, freshman, said, “I think people are getting sick because of the drastic weather changes from hot to cold in a day.”

This time of the year in Perry, Oklahoma, the weather constantly changes. The temperature could vary from the low 60’s one day to the low 20’s the next day. To keep informed about the weather, the local channels like News Channel 4, 5, or 9 give current updates!

Want to know a little bit more about what is going around the school system. Below are the most common illnesses that have hit Perry Schools.

Here are definitions according to dictionary.com:

Influenza- noun An acute contagious viral infection characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract and by fever, chills, muscular pain, and prostration. This is commonly known as the flu.

Common cold- noun A respiratory disorder characterized by sneezing, sore throat, coughing, etc., caused by an allergic reaction or by a viral, bacterial, or mixed infection.

Pneumonia- noun An acute or chronic disease marked by inflammation of the lungs and caused by viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms and sometimes by physical and chemical irritants.

Strep throat- noun An infection of the throat, often epidemic, caused by hemolytic streptococci and characterized by fever and inflammation of the tonsils.

Try taking vitamins daily, drinking lots of fluids, getting plenty of rest, dressing appropriately for the weather, and of course using Germ-x all the time! With only 12 weeks left, following some of these guidelines may cut down on absences.