Head Lice

Head lice are parasites, commonly diagnosed in children ages 3 to 12 years of age, although they can affect all segments of the population. The adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, and can live up to 4 weeks. The adult louse lays nits (eggs), firmly attached to the hair shaft with a glue-like substance, approximately ¼ inch from the scalp. Viable nits are typically camouflaged to match the pigment of the affected person's hair color. They are best seen at the nape of the neck, behind the ears, and at the crown of the head. Empty nits, i.e., no longer viable, are easier to see, as they appear white in color.


Nits incubate for 10 to 14 days. Once hatched, the young louse, or nymph, grows another 9 to 12 days, at which time they can mate, and the female will lay her nits. Head lice typically live for less than 1 day away from the scalp at room temperature. Nits cannot hatch at a temperature lower than that on the head.

Head lice cannot jump or fly; they crawl. Most cases of transmission occur through head to head contact with another affected individual. Less likely spread of head lice may occur through contact with personal items belonging to an affected individual.

It is recommended that parents inspect their child's head regularly, every 7 to 10 days. Dividing the child's hair into segments with the use of clips, and then combing through each area with a fine toothed comb is an effective method of inspecting the head. This should be done in a well-lit room. Crawling lice confirms the diagnosis. Nits found firmly attached within ¼ inch of the base of hair shafts suggests that the individual has an active case of head lice. Nits that are found more than ¼ inch from the base of the hair shaft are almost always non-viable, and do not require treatment.

When an individual is diagnosed with head lice, all close contacts should be inspected. All affected individuals should be treated at the same time. Daily inspection of the head to remove nits and lice should continue for the next 7 to 10 days. Retreatment after 7 to 10 days is then recommended, as there is no treatment that completely kills all eggs. It is essential that the label directions be closely followed. Products may vary as to how they should be used.

Supplemental measures within the home environment should be taken to avoid reinfestation by lice. These measures include washing the affected person's clothes, towels, and bedding used during the 2 days prior to treatment. Wash in hot water, and dry on hot heat. Any items that cannot be washed should be sealed in a plastic bag for 2 weeks. Personal items used for hair grooming should be washed in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes. Vacuum the floor and furniture used by the affected individual. Primary treatment should be concentrated on the person's head. As stated above, head lice typically survive less than a day off the head and cannot feed, and nits cannot hatch at a temperature lower than that on the head.

The following links are excellent sources of information regarding the etiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of head lice. For questions and clarification of information, please contact Janice Heckman, RN, district nurse at your child's school.

The Harvard School of Public Health Document and information:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fact sheets and information on head lice:
http://www.cdc.gov/lice/
The American Academy of Pediatrics Resources and Document:
The 2002 policy: http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;110/3/638

Prevention is the Best Defense Against Illness

Children and families are once again in full swing of school, sports, and soon to be, holiday preparations. Healthy habit reminders seem appropriate at this time in order to reduce the occurrence of illness in our school community. I will be visiting classrooms during October to reinforce the importance of handwashing and hygiene. Classroom discussions will focus on covering coughs and sneezes, discarding used tissues in appropriate containers, being respectful of personal space, not sharing combs, hats, eating utensils, and washing hands frequently and thoroughly. Lastly, an elevated temperature is a sign of illness. If your child goes to bed at night, or wakes in the morning, with an elevated temperature, please keep him/her home for 24 hours after the temperature has returned to normal, without the use of medication. Early returns to school often result in more absent days down the road.

Eye Exams For Children Starting School

A new state law requiring eye exams for all children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2008, took effect on January 1, 2008.

Proof of examination by a licensed optometrist or opthamologist within the previous year must be submitted before October 15, 2008.

The form, Illinois Eye Examination Report, is available from our web site. The form is available on each school's website.

1. Click on the link for Registration Forms from the school website.
2. Open the Health Forms folder.
3. Double click the Eye Exam file to open.

Sixth Grade Physicals

PHYSICALS REQUIRED FOR SIXTH GRADE

Illinois law mandating school physical exams has been amended, changing the date of required health examination from “prior to entering fifth grade” to “prior to entering sixth grade.” This new law will be enforced beginning the 2008 – 2009 school year. Therefore, all students entering sixth grade next fall will require a physical examination completed prior to August 26, 2008. Physical examination forms can be located on the district website under Parents, Permission Slips, Health Forms, and click on physical forms. These forms are also available in all three of our school buildings. Doctor appointments may be made at any time and will qualify for the fall of 2008.

Physical examinations are still required for all children entering kindergarten, and dental examinations are required for entrance into kindergarten, second, and sixth grades. Dental forms are also available on our website, as well as, in all three of our school buildings.

December Health Outlook

Viral season has begun to show itself in all its glory in District 66. The most often described complaint has been stomach ache/nausea, occasionally accompanied by a low grade temperature and headache. It is to the benefit of all our children to allow them time at home to recover fully from illness. When children return to full activity too soon, reinfection often follows. Our school district follows the guidelines set by the Dupage County Health Department which states, “students with a temperature of 100 F (37.7 C) or above, should be dismissed from school, and a student may be readmitted to the classroom if there has been no fever in the preceding 24 hours, i.e., without the use of fever-reducing medication.”

Therefore, in light of this and all the recent publicity about MRSA infections, a reminder that handwashing is of paramount importance seems in order. There is no replacement for frequent, thorough handwashing. Substituting hand sanitizers for handwashing can be appropriate, however, when soap and water are not readily available. Most hand sanitizers contain large amounts of ethanol and /or alcohol, which makes them so effective in eliminating germs from our hands.

Children are especially susceptible to the symptoms of alcohol poisoning, i.e., altered level of consciousness, slow respirations, cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin, and the presence of alcohol on the breath. Because hand sanitizers are often left where chidren can easily access them, it’s important to remember they are not packaged in child-proof containers. They are often scented and colored, which make them more appealing to young children.

Suggestions for keeping your child safe:

*Keep hand sanitizers out of sight and reach as you would prescription drugs.
*Always supervise children when using this product.
*Look for new alcohol-free hand sanitizers.
*Use soap and water when possible.
*Call the Illinois Poison Center 24-hour hotline 1-800-222-1222 if you suspect someone has ingested hand sanitizer.

November Health Beat

PREVENTION OF MRSA

Within the community MRSA is most often first detected as a skin infection. The most common factor associated with the spread of MRSA is close skin-to skin contact. Other factors include crowded living conditions, cuts or abrasions of the skin, contaminated items and surfaces and poor hygiene.

The 5 “C”s of Community Associated MRSA


CLEANLINESS:
Hand washing, bathing, laundering of clothing

COMPROMISED:
Skin integrity – Keep wound(s) clean and covered

CONTACT:
Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages

CONTAMINATION:
Avoid sharing personal items (water bottles, towels, etc.)
Clean and disinfect environment

CROWDING:
Avoid overcrowding; be aware of personal space

October Health Update - Head Lice

Health News Brief

Although head lice are an unpleasant matter to contemplate, they are a fact of life. Head lice are present in all public arenas. An excellent method of controlling their prevalence among our school community, is for each family to do a weekly head check of all family members, including parents. If a case is found within the home, please report this to the school. It is necessary to treat each case of head lice before returning to school. It is not recommended to treat unaffected family members, however. In addition to doing family head checks, it is advised that children be instructed not to share personal items, such as, combs, hairbrushes, or hair ornaments. Borrowing scarves, hats, or sports head gear should also be avoided.

Lice are spread by direct person-to-person contact. Lice do not jump or fly; they crawl and can fall off the head. Family pets can be a method of transport, however, do not become invested with lice themselves. It is reported that head lice can live up to 48 hours off the head, but only lay their eggs while on the head. Their eggs, or nits, only hatch if they remain on the head and the average incubation period is about 10 days.

Any time questions or concerns arise relating to the prevention or treatment of head lice, please call your child’s school and ask to speak with Jan Heckman.