The Hingham Board of Health is encouraging students to wash their hands thoroughly after a high number of absences have been reported due to a gastrointestinal illness.

Hingham Public Health Nurse Kathy Crowley said most illnesses of this nature are spread from person to person.

Common symptoms of a gastrointestinal type illness include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.  Any parent of a  child who experiences any symptoms is now recommended to contact the school nurse and provide as much information as possible regarding the illness.

“Please keep your child home if he/she has had a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting within the past 24 hours,” Crowley said.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kathy Crowley, Public Health Nurse at the Hingham Health Department @ 781-741-1466.