EXTRA CREDIT

December 2008
December 7-13 was National Hand Washing Week. Nearly 22 million school days are lost each year to the common cold. However, when childre practice healthy habits, like hand washing and coughing into their sleeves,they miss fewer days of school. Help reinforce health promoting behaviors. For more information, see:
http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/home_work_school.htm
and http://www.henrythehand.com

September 2008
Did you know that September is National Pediculosis Month?  This is a great time to raise awareness of this often pesky problem for school aged children, school staff and parents.  Although they cause no morbidity and do not spread disease, the discovery of lice in a classroom or on a child causes many parents and school staff undue anxiety.  It can also be embarrassing and uncomfortable for the child.

Although they cause no morbidity and do not spread disease, the discovery of lice in a classroom or on a child causes many parents and school staff undue anxiety. It can also be embarrassing and uncomfortable for the child.  You should work quickly to treat the condition and prevent its spread.  The most common symptom of head lice is itching, especially behind the ears or at the back of the neck. However, an itchy scalp may also be a symptom of other conditions such as eczema, dandruff, or allergic reactions to hair products.  Therefore, it is important to check the child's head to properly diagnose the lice. Parents should call a pediatrician if they have questions about whether their child has lice, how to treat lice or if their child is not responding to treatment.  For answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about head lice, visit http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_Lice.htm.  The AAP Clinical Report "Head Lice" also provides valuable, reassuring information for parents and school staff, along with helpful clinical information for pediatricians

August 2008
Schools play an important role in ensuring that vaccination goals are achieved. All 50 states require children to receive certain vaccines prior to enrolling in school, which helps identify children who may have missed recommended vaccines in early childhood. For the 2006-2007 school year CDC data from 49 states indicated that approximately 75% of states have reached the 2010 objective of at least 95% coverage for all of the vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for children in kindergarten. This is due largely to school entry requirements. For more information on state vaccine requirements please visit the AAP Childhood Immunization Support Program.

As parents prepare to send their children off for another school year, clinicians and parents of children with food allergies are encouraged to work with school staff to ensure an understanding of the child's condition and to ensure the child's safety. To assist parents and school staff as they prepare for students with food allergies, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and immunology offers a checklist of tips and a sample food allergy action plan. In addition to the tips provided, parents are reminded to be aware of medication expiration dates and keep in contact with their physician to insure that all medication, especially self-injectable epinephrine, is replaced prior to expiration.