HEALTH OFFICE
Hello and Welcome to the NEW St. Mary's Health Page!!
Febuary 2012
Saint Mary's has had the usual collection of illnesses this year but I would like to bring attention to a few particular ones at this time and emphasize the need for good hand washing at this time. Remember to try to avoid touching things in public places such as bannisters and railings, escalator hand rails, door knobs and handles; use your elbow or arm to open doors or to keep your balance on the stairs also use paper towels to shut off faucets or open doors. Avoid touching your face especially your eyes, nose and mouth particularly if your hands are not clean. Drink lots of water get plenty of exercise.
Walking Pneumonia which is often caused by a bacterial microorganism called Mycoplasma Pneumoniae. Recently at Saint Mary's we have had several cases of this particular kind of pneumonia. It is often associated with those who live or work in crowded areas such as schools. It is spread when someone comes in contact with droplets from the nose or throat of someone who has the infection. This commonly happens when the person with walking pneumonia sneezes or coughs.
The symptoms of walking pneumonia generally appear 15-25 days after exposure to mycoplasma and develop slowly over 2-4 days. The symptoms include cough that may come in violent spasms but produces little mucous, fever and chills, sore throat, headache, tiredness and lingering weakness which could persist after the other symptoms go away some also get ear infections, anemia and/or a skin rash.
Walking Pneumonia is generally treated with antibiotics although some very mild cases are not treated and improve on there own. Most people feel better within a few days. It's important to drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest.
We have also recently had several cases of Strep Throat. Symptoms of Strep Throat infection can have abrupt onset with mild or severe symptoms including fever (often 101 or higher lasting up to 5 days) chills, body aches, headache, nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms generally NOT associated with Strep infection include COUGH, runny nose, hoarseness or diarrhea.
Clinical Criteria to guide testing and treatment
The CDC recommends four criteria to predict likelihood of Strep Throat :
Fever
presence of tonsillar exudate (white patches on the back of the throat)
presence of tender lymph nodes in the neck
absence of cough
Again remember good hand washing, good nutrition and plenty of rest and exercise to help stay healthy and happy.
HAPPY 2012 NEW YEAR!!!
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic condition, even when a child does not have symptoms the underlying condition is still there. Asthma affects more than 6 million children and is a major health problem in the US. The airways of children with asthma are sensitive and can become swollen. Health experts recommend parents of children with asthma team up with their child's health care provider to develop an Asthma Action Plan. Together they can work to prevent the child's asthma symptoms before they start. This way your child can enjoy more physical activity, fewer asthma symptoms, fewer missed days of school, fewer ER visits and more nights without asthma symptoms.
By learning to avoid triggers and recognize symptoms (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness) and by following your Asthma Action Plan you can help control symptoms.
Asthma Triggers
Learning to avoid asthma triggers is an important part of good asthma management. Every child has different triggers, things which affect one may not affect another.
Animal dander, cockroaches, cold air, dust mites, exercise, laughing, pollution, respiratory infections, scented cleaning solutions, dryer sheets, perfumes, sllufites, smoke
Daily controller medicines can help prevent asthma symptoms. These medications help block asthma symptoms before they start. Fast acting rescue inhalers are still an important part of treatment.
Asthma Checklist
This is a short quiz to help you find out how much asthma is affecting your child's life.
Does coughing wake your child up more than 2 nights a month?
Has you child missed school because of asthma symptoms?
Does your child have to use their rescue inhaler more than 2 days a week?
Has you child been prevented from going places or doing things ( playground, sports) because of asthma?
If you answered yes to any of these questions is could indicate that your child's asthma is not under good control. Talk with your child's health care provider and work to build a partnership to manage your child's asthma more effectively.
scholastic 2010 merck
October 27, 2011
This week several children in Grade two were found to have head lice. These children were treated at home. All the children in Grade two were checked for lice by the School Nurse and no new cases were found at that time. Please continue to examine your children for head lice and treat according to the literature provided below or your doctors orders. Also try to prevent lice infestation by not sharing hair brushes or combs and don't share hats or caps.
If you find your child has lice and treat your child kindly let the school know so that we can continue to monitor. Remember once your child has been treated they will need to be retreated 10 days after the inital treatment to prevent reinfestation.
September 26, 2011
Head Lice Alert
Recently several children enrolled at SMA were found to have head lice.
Your child - any child- can get head lice. It is no cause for anger, guilt or fear. Treatment with a nonprescription medication followed by a careful cleaning of the house and car usually solves the problem.
Infestation is not related to personal cleaniness or the level of hygiene in this school. Head lice is transmitted by head-to-head contact or on shared personal items, such as hats, combs, and headphones.
Additional information on head lice infestation and its treatment is available on this website below and is the American Academy of Pediatrics current recommendations. Please feel free to contact the health office/school nurse if you have any questions.
May 3.2011
Strep Throat Alert
Some students at Saint Mary's have been diagnosed with strep throat please be aware.
Update on Strep Throat
Symptoms of Strep Throat infection can have abrupt onset with mild or severe symptoms including fever ( often 101 or higher lasting up to 5 days) chills, body aches, headache, nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms generally NOT associated with Strep infection include COUGH, runny nose, hoarseness or diarrhea.
Clinical Criteria to guide testing and treatment
The CDC recommends four criteria to predict likelihood of Strep Throat :
Fever
presence of tonsillar exudate ( white patches on the back of the throat)
presence of tender lymph nodes in the neck absence of cough.
Hello and Welcome to the NEW St. Mary's Health Page!!
January 24,2011
Head Lice Alert
Recently a child enrolled at this school was found to have head lice.
Your child - any child- can get head lice. It is no cause for anger, guilt or fear. Treatment with a nonprescription medication followed by a careful cleaning of the house and car usually solves the problem.
Infestation is not related to personal cleaniness or the level of hygiene in this school. Head lice is transmitted by head-to-head contact or on shared personal items, such as hats, combs, and headphones.
Additional information on head lice infestation and its treatment is available on this website below and is the American Academy of Pediatrics current recommendations. Please feel free to contact the health office/school nurse if you have any questions.
Practice Healthy Habits:
* Remember to wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer
*try not to touch public railings or door knobs
*try not to touch your face especially your eyes
*Remember to use a new tissue or your elbow to cough into, not your hand
*Please stay home when you're sick and keep sick children home too.
* Hats, coats, jackets, gloves and scarves , please, its cold out there !!!
*
If you are interested in obtaining your child's BMI from the Academy Health Office you can contact the School Nurse. The Health Office uses software that can calculate and graph your child's weight, height and BMI.
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* Remember there are still ticks out there especially in the woods and leaves. Protect your children from tick bites with light colored clothing covering their arms and legs while in the woods or heavily wooded areas, tuck pant legs into socks; following your hike remove clothes and put directly into the washer; carefully inspect your child for ticks checking their heads, behind their ears and between toes; ticks are in the nymph phase now and especially tiny (see attachment below for pictures of ticks, and website for tick identification)
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November, 1, 2010
Update on Strep Throat
Symptoms of Strep Throat infection can have abrupt onset with mild or severe symptoms including fever ( often 101 or higher lasting up to 5 days) chills, body aches, headache, nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms generally NOT associated with Strep infection include COUGH, runny nose, hoarseness or diarrhea.
Clinical Criteria to guide testing and treatment
The CDC recommends four criteria to predict likelihood of Strep Throat :
Fever
presence of tonsillar exudate ( white patches on the back of the throat)
presence of tender lymph nodes in the neck
absence of cough
If 4 criteria are met then treatment should be expected; with 3 of the four symptoms they could be treated or tested and treated only if the rapid strep test is positive; if only 2 symptoms are present test with treatment only if test is positive; only 1 symptom no test and no treatment
Of course these are only recommendations and your family Doctor may have different criteria for treatment. Treatment is generally antibiotics ( Penicillin V or amoxicillin or Erythromycin). The CDC does Not recommend treatment for family members unless they have symptoms or positive strep tests. The CDC does not recommend excluding the child with Strep Throat from school but if your child has a fever the school policy requires them to stay out of school until they are fever free without medication for fever for 24 hours.
www.clinicaladvisor.com
5-12-10
On Monday May 17th grades 5-8 will be screened for scoliosis in the Academy Health Office as required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts law Chapter 7, Section 57.
The screening is only for screening purposes and is not diagnostic, all concerns will be communicated to the parents by the Academy Health Office. The screening consists of a simple observation of the student's back, hips and shoulders. Early detection of scoliosis in children reduces postural defects through proper treatment and is especially important with the rapid growth in childhood.
Attention to the parents of all students entering Pre Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 3rd and 7th in the fall of 2010. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires proof of a recent (within one year) physical exam for entrance to these grades. For entrance into Kindergaten or Pre Kindergarten proof of a recent Lead screening is required. Additionally for entry into 7th Grade an immunization update is required with recent (within 5 years) Tetnus vaccine as well as the required MMR(2) and Varicella (2). Also recommended but not required are the annual Flu vaccine and the Meningoccal vaccine. Please keep these requirements in mind when scheduling your child's summer camp exams. Attached below are the Massachusetts School Health Record Form for first time entry to Saint Mary's Academy (2 sided) and the subsequent exam form (two sided) for those enrolled already.
2-08-10
Please read the following attachment. It contains information concerning head lice. Please make sure to inform us immediately if you find this condition happening within your family. Thank you.
1-4-10
Happy and Healthy New Year!
Please find attached at the bottom of the Health Page permission forms for the H1N1 Flu vaccine and an information sheet on the vaccine. The H1N1 flu vaccine will be available during school hours for students with completed screening and consent forms. The Town of Longmeadow Board of Health will provide the vaccine to the students at Saint Mary's Academy for no cost.
The vaccine will be offered in two forms the nasal mist or the injectable Flu Shot, parents will select their desired form of vaccine based on the child's health status and their choice. Please read the Flu information sheet also attached to assist you in your decision.
Again, if your child has not yet had the H1N1 Flu vaccine and you would like your child to recieve this vaccine at no cost, during school hours and administered by the school nurse please download, print and complete the attached forms (screening and consent) and return to school as soon as possible. Also for your information please download and read the information sheet provided.
The school Flu clinic will be scheduled once all students have responded. No child will recieve the vaccine without the required screening and consent. Parents will not need to be present for their child to recieve the vaccine.
11-12-09
Still have a good number of students out this week and still a number of students with the H1N1 flu starting to see some cases of the regular flu as well. If you have access through your pediatritian's office to either of the flu vaccines(H1N1 or seasonal) Please consider having your child vaccinated particularly if your child has any chronic health problems.
11-5-09
Half the number of absentees this week, hopefully we are on the mend. Please remember to keep children with temperatures greater than 100.0 home for atleast 24hrs after they are fever free without medication. Keep washing your hands and sneezing and coughing into your elbow, drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest.
10-29-09
Please be advised that there has been several recent cases of Strep in our School in the past week. Individuals with Strep throat have excruciating throat pain accompanied by difficulty swallowing and even speaking. Fever can be present and the tonsils are often covered with a whitish layer of pus, swollen, and tender lymphnodes can also occur, rash and/ or headache. Some children may complain of stomach ache and may even vomit.
Cough and runny nose are NOT commonly related to strep throat but it is possible to have both a cold virus and a Strep throat infection. If you suspect you child could have a Strep throat infection your doctor can preform a rapid Strep test and/ or a throat culture can be evaluated in a lab
10-26-09
We have children at Saint Mary's who are out sick and being treated for the Swine Flu. Our plan it to step up all preventative measures at school beginning with hand washing. Washing with soap and water is best, next best is hand sanitizer. We will be asking everyone entering Saint Mary's to use the hand sanitizer provided at the front door and in the school cafeteria. We will continue to use it through out the day.
We will ask for the cooperation of all parents at Saint Mary's to keep their children home if they are sick, especially if they are presenting with cough, fever, headache, sore throat, stuffy, runny nose and sneezing. If your child is sick with a fever please keep them home for at least 24 hours after they are symptom and fever free without medication.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Mass. School Health Record pg. 10001.pdf | 759.64 KB |
| Mass School Health Record pg. 20001.pdf | 454.45 KB |
| Subsequent pg.10001.pdf | 782.97 KB |
| Subsequent pg. 20001.pdf | 582.65 KB |
| Tick Info sheet0001.pdf | 374.41 KB |
| Influenza Fact Sheet page 10001.pdf | 1016.89 KB |
| Influenza Fact Sheet page 20001.pdf | 985.57 KB |
| Flu Vaccine permission form page 10001.pdf | 931.96 KB |
| Flu Vaccine permission form page 20001.pdf | 658.35 KB |
| Head Lice Alert.doc | 589 KB |
| Bullying-for-Parents.ppt | 10 MB |
| Bullying-for-Parents.pptx | 6.44 MB |
| School Safety Survey Questions for Parents.doc | 24 KB |
| American Academy Ped Lice Policy.pdf | 72 KB |
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