Nurse / Health Matters
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Mrs Irene WONG |
Medical Authorization Form Dowload here
GASTROENTERITIS
This infection is currently spreading around Kennedy School.
Symptoms are: Tummy ache, nausea, food aversion, vomiting, lethargy and back and neck aches. No fever.
Please keep your child home for one or two days following vomiting. Children will be listless, tired and have no energy. Food or drink will cause them to vomit. Observe them for signs of dehydration. (Irritable, sleepy, dry skin and mucous membranes- the smaller the child the more you should worry.)
Following the illness to rest the stomach follow the BRAT diet:
Bananas, Rice, Apples, Toast
until the illness is over and child requests more food. Then start with plain yoghurt and honey.
Make sure the child and all carers wash their hands after treating the vomiting child.
Wash all areas/vomit bowls/cups and utensils with a weak bleach solution (1/2 tsp per small bucket). Soiled clothing, linen and towels should be washed in a weak bleach as well. Dry in sunshine.
Help us STAMP OUT headlice-
Scroll down to find out how to do it.
Intestinal Parasites
Intestinal parasites (or worms) are common in childhood. They can live in your body for about 6 months before detection.
There are three types: HOOKWORMS, PINWORMS OR THREADWORMS. They can be cured by taking some medicine prescibed by a doctor or Pharmacist so are cheap and easy to treat.
You know you have them if you don't wash your hands a lot before eating and you have a VERY ITCHY BOTTOM!
It is easy to prevent them: WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER!!!!before you eat and keep your fingers out of your mouth.
Please click on www.childrenfirst.nhs.uk/kids/health/ask_doc/bodybits/worms.html for more information.
Flu Vaccine Subsidy Scheme
The Hong Kong Government is offering a Flu Vaccination Subsidy Scheme to all resident HK children. Please visit www.ivss.gov.hk or call 2125 2125 for details.
Flu Vaccination guidelines for 2010
The Department of Health has issued new guidelines for the 2010 Flu vaccination.
It is now recommended for all children from aged 6 months to 5 years, and pregnant women.
Please visit the DOH website for information on the type of vaccination that should be given for the upcoming season. To be effective the vaccination should be administered in the months of September, October or November.
Please visit www.dh.gov.hk for more information.
PEANUT ALLERGY
Peanut allergy is sometimes a life-threatening situation.
Children may have an ANAPHYLACTIC reaction to the food. This may be ingested, inhaled as vapour or by skin contact, e.g. peanut butter smeared on the skin.
Symptoms of a severe reaction are:
- Itchy red rash and swelling around the mouth and tongue
- Hives on body, itching all over
- difficulty speaking or swallowing
- severe asthma
- nausea, fast heart rate, anxiety++
- weakness and collapse
Treatment involves the rapid injection of epinephrine and immediate transfer to hospital.
Peanuts may be obvious, as in a muesli bar or cookie, or hidden as peanut oil, crushed or cooked into food.
Other names may be used such as aracis oil or monkey nuts.
Therefore it is difficult to completely avoid peanuts.
Several children in the school have this allergy so if a child in your child's class has a severe allergy you will be asked NOT to provide nuts or peanut butter in your child's lunch or snack. The children in the class know that it is a Kennedy School Rule that food is not shared in school.
Classes this year 2010 with a child with a known peanut allergy are:
1C, 1P, 1T, 2K, 3C, 3D, 3M, 4B, 4C, 4J, 4T, 5L, 5M, 5T, 6C
Please discuss this with your child and contact me if you have any further queries.
Slapped Cheek Syndrome
Also known as Fifth Disease or erythema infectiosum.
It is caused by the parvovirus B19. Slapped Cheek Syndrome is a mild illness spread from person to person by sneezing and coughing, and presents with with low fever, sore throat and fatigue.
You may also have headache, nausea and runny nose. Adults may get aching joints and maybe some brain and heart abnormalities. However it is so mild that in some people there are no symptoms at all.
At the end of the infectious period - about 4-20 days- there is a distinctive blotchy red rash covering the cheeks and then a fine lacy rash on arms and legs. Then you are no longer contagious and may return to work or school. The rash may come and go, last up to 7-10 days, and may be mildly itchy.
There is a small chance if you are pregnant and not immune to the virus that it may affect your baby- please let the doctor know that you have been exposed to the virus.
The teacher and School Nurse should be informed if your child is diagnosed with the virus.
CHICKEN POX
Otherwise known as varicella zoster.
This virus is spread by coughing, sneezing or by direct contact.
Symptoms begin 10-21 days after contact with the virus.
SYMPTOMS:
Low fever, slight cough, runny nose, loss of appetite, headache, fatigue.
After 24-48 hours spots or blisters appear on chest, back and face and quickly spread to all other areas of the body including mouth and ears.
DURATION:
7-10 days after spots appear. After 5-7 days blisters begin to crust over.
Children with chicken pox should stay home for at least a week, or longer if some blisters have not crusted over.
Please let the teacher and school nurse know.
TREATMENT:
Cool baths with a tablespoon of baking powder dissolved in it.
Calamine lotion to spots.
Lots of rest and sleep.
Paracetamol or nurofen for fever and pain.
The doctor may prescribe antihistamines for itch.
Saltwater mouthwashes if spots in mouth.
Small yummy meals.
See a doctor if you are worried, or if you are pregnant, have eczema or are taking immuno-supressants.
HAND FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE
Caused by the Coxsackie virus and Enterovirus 71.
There is an incubation period of 3-6 days.
Signs and symptoms include:
Low grade fever, malaise, loss of appetite during the 1-2 day 'prodrome' period.
Then lesions like blisters appear in mouth, hands, feet and sometimes on buttocks.
Blisters are yellow with red 'halos'.
They are not painful but may be uncomfortable and last about 3-6 days.
Most children who have the disease are under 5 years of age. The infections peak in summer and autumn, and it tends to be a trivial illness.
Please see a doctor if there is a pregnant woman in the household.
Please also notify the teacher and school nurse if your child has been diagnosed with HF&M.
Have a look at this GREAT kids website- tells you all about impetigo, norovirus, chickenpox, sprains, colds, vaccinations and more....
PREVENTION OF INFLUENZA
Symptoms are: cough, sneezing, runny nose, muscle aches, chills and fever>37 C.
Children with any combination of these symptoms should stay home from school.
They should be taken to see the doctor if symptoms persist.
They should remain at home until TWO days after the fever subsides.
To prevent the flu keep washing your hands especially after coughing and sneezing.
Use tissues and dispose of the used ones in a garbage bin.
Children who present at school with fever and/or flu symptoms will be sent home.
HEADLICE are BACK!!
Headlice have appeared again.
Turn this into a biology lesson for your parents and carers.
- Get a piece of kitchen towel, toilet paper or tissue
- Find a nit comb and a magnifying glass and a good light (adults can't see very well without good lighting!)
- Get them to search through your hair like explorers in a foreign land, looking for treasure. They should be on the lookout for eggcases called NITS glued to the hair shaft, bites on your neck and LIVE animals called LICE.
- Collect all the treasure. Kill the live lice with the back of your fingernail. If you wet your hair first and smother it in conditioner the live lice will come away easier.
- Do a lice count and let Nurse Anne know.
- Alert your teacher and classmates so they can do a search , and all the people who live in your house should be checked too.
Get on the internet and search www.cyh.com - click on headlice
IMPETIGO
Impetigo is a bacterial infection of the skin, either by stapholococcal or streptococcal organisms.
It can enter perfectly normal skin.
It begins as a red, round area on the arms, legs or face and within 24hrs will blister, pop and spread rapidly to other areas of the body.
It can only be treated by a doctor. They will give you cream and maybe some antibiotics to take by mouth.
Make sure you don't spread it or get it by having good hygeine habits (washing your hands), reporting any rashes to an adult or school nurse and seeing a doctor straight away if you think you have it.
Check it out at www.mayoclinic.com
PINK EYE- CONJUNCTIVITIS
Pink Eye, or conjunctivitis, is an infection of the conjunctiva or white area of the eye. It commonly follows a bad cold, but can appear after cross infection from someone else with Pink Eye.
It is highly infectious -especially in the classroom situation. Although not serious it is a very irritating and annoying infection. Eyes will be red or pink, watering, sticky (especially in the morning) and itchy.
Children should STAY AWAY FROM SCHOOL and commence treatment- eyedrops from a doctor. Once the drops have been adminstered for 24 hours they may return to school.
Children who arrive at school with Pink Eye will be sent home.
FUN STUFF FOR HEALTHY KIDS!
Check out www.childrenfirst.nhs.hk for FUN games and LOADS of information about your body.
FAQ'S
My child is ill- what do I do?
If your child has a fever >37.5, cough, is sneezing, has diarrhoea or vomiting, please do not send them to school.
Keeping them home for a day or two will help them to recover and will help stop the spread of the virus.
My child has been prescribed medication- what do I do?
Please send in the medication fully labelled with your child's name, class, time to be administered and reason for prescription.
Be aware that some medications, such as antihistamines, will make the child sleepy, and your child may be better off at home.
My child has asthma. Please let the School Nurse and your child's teacher know. We need to be aware of the severity of the illness, medications given at home and at school. It is important to take the correct medication on school trips and camps.
If there is any change in their condition or medication please update the School Nurse ASAP.
MY FAVORITE WEBSITES:
- National Health Service UK
- Hong Kong Department of Health
- Mayo Clinic Health website
- Asthma information for children, adults and parents
TRAVELLING?
If both parents are out of Hong Kong for more than a few hours please let the school know.
If your child becomes ill or has an accident we will need to contact you or a designated carer / guardian
and it is imperative that the school knows all the contact numbers.
A form is necessary- it can be found on the CLC toolbar - click on Letters, Trips and Forms.
