Strep. Throat
Strep Throat
Strep. throat seems to always be in our population. Check your child's throat with a flashlight. This is a typical presentation but it may not always look like this. Some children are just more prone to strep. throat than others.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/strep-throat/DS00260weeblylink_new_window
Head Lice
Head Lice
Even the cleanest and wealthiest of families get head lice. Unfortunately, lice have been a nuisance for a very long time but if your child has them, it might seem that your world has turned upside down. There is no reason to panic. Here are some good websites:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000840.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/225013-overview#showall
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/headlice/ig/Head-Lice-Pictures
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/09/super-lice-resistant-to-chemical/6239413/
Here is a great video: http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/lice/
From the above source (Medscape), . . . personal cleanliness is not a factor in infestation rates.
Lice has been a real concern for us all this year. The attached stigma to this "disease" is what impedes communication and communication is the key to treating a population.
These are just some of the preventive measures I am doing at HL for individual known cases: Siblings are checked, student(s) are immediately sent home and directions are given and discussed with parents, website updated, notes home to all classmates, students must be free of all lice and nits before re-entering the classroom and are checked in 8-10 days for reinfestation. I have also contacted the county and state health departments who merely referred me to the CDC website (see above). Environmental: Custodians are vacuuming floors every night, backpacks are stored in cubbies.
Note: Statistics include reports from parents of cases that were not confirmed by the nurse.
On 12/6/13, a drug rep. from Sanofi Pasteur spoke with the district nurses about a new product available to kill head lice. First off, he gave us some facts: He said that there are over 6-12 million infestations of head lice a year. Most are in the younger children because they have little or no "personal space." He said lice really do like clean hair better. He also said most cases are not contracted at school. Lice die within 12-48 hours off the human host. If lice are falling off, these are the ones getting ready to die. Viable nits can be coffee to tan colored. Over-the-counter products only work 40% of the time and can lead to resistance. As some of you know, the OTC and many prescription products require a second treatment 7-10 days after because they don't kill the nits.
Now for the "plug": There is a new product on the market that is available by prescription only. It is called "Sklice." It can be applied to anyone 6 months of age or older and, get this, it doesn't require a second treatment because it supposedly kills the nits. Apparently the treatment coats the nit so that, once the louse emerges, it is killed. That means no nit combing. However (and this is a big however), DVUSD has a "no nit" policy so we still must abide by keeping the child home until they are nit free. Another "however," is that the laundry, house and car still need to be cleaned, treated or vacuumed. Still, this sounds like a very promising product. I'm just glad to see that someone is paying attention to this problem.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000840.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/225013-overview#showall
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/headlice/ig/Head-Lice-Pictures
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/09/super-lice-resistant-to-chemical/6239413/
Here is a great video: http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/lice/
From the above source (Medscape), . . . personal cleanliness is not a factor in infestation rates.
Lice has been a real concern for us all this year. The attached stigma to this "disease" is what impedes communication and communication is the key to treating a population.
These are just some of the preventive measures I am doing at HL for individual known cases: Siblings are checked, student(s) are immediately sent home and directions are given and discussed with parents, website updated, notes home to all classmates, students must be free of all lice and nits before re-entering the classroom and are checked in 8-10 days for reinfestation. I have also contacted the county and state health departments who merely referred me to the CDC website (see above). Environmental: Custodians are vacuuming floors every night, backpacks are stored in cubbies.
Note: Statistics include reports from parents of cases that were not confirmed by the nurse.
On 12/6/13, a drug rep. from Sanofi Pasteur spoke with the district nurses about a new product available to kill head lice. First off, he gave us some facts: He said that there are over 6-12 million infestations of head lice a year. Most are in the younger children because they have little or no "personal space." He said lice really do like clean hair better. He also said most cases are not contracted at school. Lice die within 12-48 hours off the human host. If lice are falling off, these are the ones getting ready to die. Viable nits can be coffee to tan colored. Over-the-counter products only work 40% of the time and can lead to resistance. As some of you know, the OTC and many prescription products require a second treatment 7-10 days after because they don't kill the nits.
Now for the "plug": There is a new product on the market that is available by prescription only. It is called "Sklice." It can be applied to anyone 6 months of age or older and, get this, it doesn't require a second treatment because it supposedly kills the nits. Apparently the treatment coats the nit so that, once the louse emerges, it is killed. That means no nit combing. However (and this is a big however), DVUSD has a "no nit" policy so we still must abide by keeping the child home until they are nit free. Another "however," is that the laundry, house and car still need to be cleaned, treated or vacuumed. Still, this sounds like a very promising product. I'm just glad to see that someone is paying attention to this problem.
Mononucleosis
White exudate on the tonsils of a child with infectious mononucleosis.
Infectious mononucleosis is transmitted through saliva, so you can get it through a cough or sneeze, or by sharing a glass or food utensil with someone who has mono. However, mononucleosis isn't as contagious as some infections, such as the common cold.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mononucleosis/DS00352
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mononucleosis/DS00352
Coxsackievirus
Coxsackievirus blisters on the bottom of a child's foot.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common viral illness that usually affects infants and children younger than 5 years old. However, it can sometimes occur in adults. Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease include fever, mouth sores, and a skin rash.
http://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/index.html
Sever's Disease
I'm seeing many students with foot pain. Unfortunately, the shoes that are in style are often the ones that lack support. For example, Vans and Converse and, of course, flip flops do not support the foot's arch. Inflamed and tender tendons may be the result.
I recently spoke with a podiatrist at Midwestern University and she said that Sever's Disease may be causing the foot pain. Sever's Disease is not a "disease" as most of us know it. Instead, over time, repeated stress (force or pressure) on a tight Achilles tendon can damage the growth plate of the heel, causing the swelling, tenderness, and pain of Sever's. Supportive shoes are especially important if your child is in sports. Info in KidsHealth.
I recently spoke with a podiatrist at Midwestern University and she said that Sever's Disease may be causing the foot pain. Sever's Disease is not a "disease" as most of us know it. Instead, over time, repeated stress (force or pressure) on a tight Achilles tendon can damage the growth plate of the heel, causing the swelling, tenderness, and pain of Sever's. Supportive shoes are especially important if your child is in sports. Info in KidsHealth.