Childhood Illnesses... and Lice
Childhood Illnesses... and Lice
Your child's health, wellness, and safety are the key priorities of the school nurse. The role of the school nurse is not to send home students for every little thing, but it's to keep your child healthy, in school, and healthy and safe while they are in school.
Did you know that the average preschool-aged child can get 8- 12 colds, respiratory illnesses, or stomach bugs a year? Young children are still growing their immune systems, causing them to seemingly "catch everything," especially when they start school, or come back to school.
At Menchaca, we have a somewhat predictable schedule and cycle of illnesses in our students.
Back to school: About a week, or two after school starts, we see our first surge in the generic "viruses." Cough, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea/ vomiting, etc are very common. According to the University of Utah Health, "prekindergarten and elementary school are the first times that they're interacting with a lot of kids outside their family on a regular basis. They are exposed to all sorts of new germs, and of course, we know that kids spread viruses easily until they are older and can remember to wash their hands, cover their coughs, and not share snacks."
Then we enter into Hand, Foot, & Mouth season. Hand, Foot, and Mouth (HFM) usually starts with a low-grade fever, which is usually not even known to the parents because their child is their usual self. It isn't until 3- 4 days after the fever that the tell-tale rash starts and the child might complain of a sore throat. Unfortunately, by this point, they have already been at their most contagious and has shared the germs around the class. Usually when we see one case of Hand, Foot, Mouth in a class, we see multiple cases. Doctors have different protocols for return to school, so if you suspect your child has hand, foot, and mouth, please make a visit to your doctor.
We get through Hand, Foot & Mouth season just in time for strep throat/ flu/ and Covid season. We all know what those are about. What I can offer you from the school nurse perspective is that our students frequently do not present with these illnesses in the same way adults might. For example, often times with strep throat the child will say their stomach hurts or will have the "strep rash" and sore throat will come later (if at all). Often times they will run a fever, but not always as their first sign. When it comes to flu, many of our students will say they have a headache and/ or body aches. For Covid.... it has so many signs/ symptoms, I can't even begin to list everything.
Starting in late-December we go into Cedar Fever season. The most important thing I ask you to remember with cedar fever or allergies is that if there is an actual fever (greater than 100°), your child should be seen by a doctor. What might start as "allergies" can become a bacterial infection very quickly and easily. All that stuff in the lungs and nose become a great breeding ground for bacteria.
After we go through strep/ flu/ covid and cedar fever, we get a sprinkling of strep again, seasonal allergies (still), and our always ongoing stomach bugs. We head into summer break, where we all get a little break, just to start again the next school year.
Key things to remember:
Our district policy is that students be fever-free (less than 100°) for 24 hours WITHOUT the use of medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Remeber that when you are giving a pain reliever for sore throats, aches, and headaches, you could be masking a fever. If you are unsure if your child has a fever, I am happy to meet you at drop off to check their temperature. Students also must not be vomiting or have diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.
What you can do at home:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers, using the toilet, and coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
Cover your cough/ sneeze with a tissue or your elbow.
Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and shared items, including toys, tables, sinks, and doorknobs.
Get rest: Make sure young children and teens get enough hours of sleep every night to support their immune system.
Eat good food: Serve balanced meals with fruits, vegetables, and plenty of water.
Stay active: Encourage daily outdoor play and exercise.
Get vaccinated: Keep seasonal shots like the flu vaccine up to date. We have mobile vaccine clinics visit Menchaca which offer free flu vaccines for the whole community!
Stay home when sick: Keep children home if they have a fever, vomiting, or feel too poorly to learn, which stops germs from spreading to others.
The dreaded "L word"... Lice
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, "school districts’ policies and procedures should not encourage the embarrassment and isolation of students who have repeated cases of head lice... lice are not a public health threat."
Per the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Texas Department of State Health Services, and other health organizations, Southside ISD does NOT exclude students for head lice. Our district policy and handbook state:
"The district does not require or recommend that students be removed from school because of lice or nits. If careful observation indicates that a student has head lice, the school nurse will contact the student’s parent to discuss a treatment plan using an FDA-approved medicated shampoo or cream rinse that may be purchased from any drug or grocery store. After the student undergoes one treatment, the parent should contact the school nurse to discuss the treatment used. The nurse can also offer additional recommendations, including subsequent treatments, how best to get rid of lice, and how to prevent lice from returning.
The district will provide notice to parents of elementary school students in an affected classroom without identifying the student with lice."
For more information, please visit:
American Academy of Pediatrics- Head Lice
Managing Head Lice in School Settings and at home
Please feel free to contact me at 210-882-1610 x4059 or heather.siebert@southsideisd.org if you have any questions regarding your child's health.