Health Office MBS

This year is predicted to be a bad season for insects, including ticks.  Even though the weather man can’t figure out what the weather should be, we have already had students with insect bites and tick bites at MBS. 

It’s good practice to be preventive, wear long sleeves & pants when anywhere near trees and woods.  When you come in, make it a habit to inspect bodies thoroughly(ears and neck are a common spot), and remove any ticks found as soon as possible and clean the area well. 

Call you doctor for further advise, but typically most tick bites do not require treatment. Symptoms to watch for include fever, joint achiness and a bulls eye (target type) rash. 

Here are some web sites for futher information.

http://www.healthvermont.gov/prevent/zoonotic/tickborne/Tickborne_diseases.aspx

http://www.cdc.gov/lyme

This week Mr. Hunt, Ms Thomas, and I will meet with all 4th & 5th grade classes (boys with Mr Hunt, girls with Ms Thomas and I) to discuss age appropriate puberty.  Grade 4 students will have 1 lesson (movie with question/answer session in 1 day) while Grade 5 students will have 2 lessons( Movie day 1, question/answer session day 2).  See the Information on section on the Right toolbar for more information on what is discussed.  Boys in Grade 4 review hygeine and being independent in these skills.  Girls get their first look at the female body changes and menstruation.  In Grade 5 both groups see the same movie about body changes (male and female) along with the menstrual cycle and changes/hygeine and care they need to be respectful of the other gender and a basic understanding of growth and development.  We feel strongly that parents/family are the best teachers and our goal is simply to supplement your teachings; at the very least open the door for communication with you on this difficult but important subject.  Please feel free to give us feedback on our program and how we can best support you and your child as they begin the journey into adolescence.

This week and next I will meet with ALL 5th grade classrooms to talk about nursing services at MBS & CMS and empower students to take care of themselves as much as possible.  The focus is to help students understand how to care for themselves for the little things at least.  The goal is to begin practicing using these skills (how to use nursing/health services) as they would at CMS for the final weeks at MBS.  These skills include having a pass when coming to the nurse office, trying to help themselves first in the classroom and being “concise” when asking for nursing help.  Please see the Information on… section in this blog to the Right marked Grade 5 Health Lesson Transition to CMS for more information on what we talked about.

The stomach virus is back.  Unlike most stomach illnesses in kids which can be quick (24-48hr duration), this virus seems to persist up to a week.  Lots of stomach pain/cramps ( in some cases seem severe enough to mimic appendicitis concerns), nausea, loss of appetite, some have fever, most don’t, some vomiting, others have diarrhea.  Any of these symptoms should be considered as active illness and students should be home until 24hrs without abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea.  (Some classes have had as many as 3-4 cases of students out at a time for up to a week).  Treatment unfortunately is rest, fluids and bland diet.

Strep Throat is also persisting.  Stomach aches & Sore throats also go together with Strep throat.  If your child ALSO has a sore throat with a stomach ache, consider having them tested for strep throat.  Strep throat is a contagious illness and students can recieve antibiotics so they can return to school after 24 hours of antibiotics.  If left untreated, strep can lead to rashes and other illnesses such as scarlet fever

It took less than a week and we now have cases of strep throat in ALL 3 houses at MBS.  It’s almost vacation, but if your child exhibits any sore throat symptoms (see below)  Please have them checked by their provider for strep throat.  If you are treated for strep throat over vacation, please let the nurse know so I can keep track of this communicable disease.  ( Email friebergt@csdvt.org or voicemail 264-5904 or send a note when your child returns to school).  Thanks for your support

MBS has seen over a 1/2dozen cases of strep throat (Lighthouse only) in the past week.  Strep Throat is a bacterial infection spread by nasal secretions and saliva.  Symptoms typically start 2-5 days after being exposed and can be mild to severe. Symptoms are:

• Fever(usually sudden onset)
• Sore/ Red Throat (may or may not have white spots)
• Headache
• Nausea/Stomach ache
• Chills
• Loss of appetite or ability to swallow
• Other cold symptoms such as cough or runny nose usually mean a cold and not strep throat.

Confirmation of strep throat can only be done by a physician.  If you suspect strep throat, please call your doctor for an appointment.    Antibiotics are an effective treatment.  Exclusion from school and contacts for a full 24hrs after starting the medication is necessary to stop the spread of strep throat.  (Please remember to contact the school nurse that your child has undergoing treatment for strep throat). Other treatments include:

• Acetaminophen(Tylenol) can help with pain/fever control
• Fluids (hot tea, honey, lemon) cool liquids or popsicles
• Salt Water gargles(1/2tsp salt in 1cup warm water)
• Vaporizer/Humidity at bedside

If left untreated, strep throat can lead to other complications such as ear infections, sinus infections, rheumatic fever, scarlet fever or kidney infections. 

        The Calendar says February, but the playground looks a lot more like March or April.  Mud is the main event.  PLEASE, send your students with appropriate clothing/footwear.  The school DOES NOT have extra clothing to lend to students.  We know parents are busy and we try not to bother families to bring clothing changes for mud accidents.  The Best solution is to tuck a pair of sweat pants/socks in your child’s backpack to use for emergencies.  We try our best to offer solutions within our means, but if your child does not have their own “extra” clothes, they may be asked to sit in muddy clothes for the day.

 The holiday break seems to have provided MBS with a much needed break from our pertussis cough and germs.  Although the incubation period is 3 weeks and we may not be completely out of the woods, it seems this threat has been greatly reduced.  It is January and the cold and flu season is just around the corner.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of liquids, eating a balanced diet, dressing for the weather and getting your child a flu vaccine could be the recipe you need to keep the dreaded winter flu season out of your home. 

 A great way to help your child with the winter heat on drying out lips and skin is to send them to school each day with a refillable water bottle.  MBS is very pleased to have a new water fountain installed outside our school library that has a feature of filling water bottles.  Not only do all MBS staff and students have access to fresh cold drinking water, we are saving the environment one water bottle at a time.  The fountain even has a counter that tallies the amount of plastic countainers we are saving our planet by using the water station.  Stop by and see it on your next visit and don’t forget to send your child with a water bottle.  Not only will it keep them healthy, but many of the cough and cold symptoms that may arise can be helped with water, especially since the school does not have access to any cough or cold medication.

         Accidents happen from spilled milk in the lunchroom to paint spills in art.  Getting wet at recess or a sudden bloody nose can send anyone into a frenzy.  We understand parents are busy and as a result, we do our best to clean up what we can and reassure your children that it is ok to proceed with their day without disrupting yours.  As a result, we make it a practice NOT to have students call home for wet socks or spilled milk on pants.  For health reasons, sometimes a change of clothing is necessary.  A small supply is available with the nurse, but children feel much more comfortable with their own clothing options.  For this reason, we strongly encourage ALL students to have an extra clothing items that can either be stored in their classroom or in the bottom of the backpacks for those “emergencies” that could occur.  Please consider having this emergency bag available at school.  Maybe Murphy’s Law will prevail, if you are prepared it won’t be needed!

We continue to battle pertussis at MBS (See updated letter from the Health Department on the Right lower toolbar).  Cases are at 9 confirmed and counting in 3 of the 4 houses at MBS (greenhouse, lighthouse and summit).  We have several more cases pending including 1 in the Harmony House that is not yet confirmed.  Please continue to monitor your child for coughs.  If they last >1week, please call your provider so they can be evaluated and let me know if they have been tested or treated for pertussis.  Meanwhile, we will continue to encourage cough etiquette (coughing into sleeves), extra handwashing and cleaning of surfaces here at school. I am hopeful that we will be in a downward bell curve soon and most of our cases will be diagnosed and treated soon.