School nurses may deal with various common infectious eye, ear, nose, and throat–related chief complaints in regular practice. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of severe infection is paramount to preventing life-threatening complications that can have both acute and long-term implications. Distinguishing urgent and emergent eye, ear, nose, and throat conditions to send to the emergency department is integral to reducing the morbidity associated with these conditions. This article discusses three different students presenting with various chief complaints, from the initial assessment by the school nurse to the appropriate disposition and follow-up.
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