Back-To-School Illnesses

It’s a brand-new school year! Along with a crowd of groaning children and teachers, every September
brings with it a new crop of childhood illnesses! With their underdeveloped immune systems and a
strong affinity for forgetting to wash their hands, our littlest generation are germ magnets.

Here are a few ailments to look out for as your tiny tots head back to the classroom:

Lice

These little varmints are every parent’s nightmare! Thriving on close contact for dissemination, school
yards and classrooms are perfect breeding grounds for these tiny creatures, especially during toque
season!

Contrary to popular belief, lice have no correlation with level of hygiene, gender, ethnicity, nor
economic status. Lice are not dangerous, and shaving does nothing to eliminate them.
Scratching is an obvious symptom of lice, but they don’t always itch. It is important to check
frequently for small, beige or brown eggs clinging to the scalp.

Treatment for lice required finesse and patience. Anti-lice shampoos coupled with nit combing and
disinfection will eventually rid your little one’s scalp of the nasty beasties.

Pinworm

Pinworms may sound like a nightmare, but they are actually quite treatable and tend to be more
common than most think.

Pinworms are white worms, resembling sewing thread that lives inside rectums and emerge at night
causing aggravation and discomfort. If your little one is complaining that his or her bum is itchy at
bedtime, consult a physician.

Similar to lice, hygiene does not play a factor in the contraction of pinworm and all children are
vulnerable. Pinworms spread when children scratch the infected area and consequently transfer the
eggs to another surface. When other kids get their hands on these surfaces, and then their hands end
up in their mouths, pinworms are the result.

Pinworm can be treated through oral medications prescribed by your family doctor.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Not to be mistaken with foot and mouth disease, this illness tends to affect kids five years of age and
younger (though anybody can get it).

Hand, foot, and mouth disease spreads rapidly by way of air, contaminated surfaces, and person-to-
person contact. The disease thrives in classrooms and daycares wherein curious fingers like to touch
everything.

Treatment for the disease is usually not required, though management of symptoms, such as fever,
mouth sores and skin rashes may be.

Talk to one of our knowledgeable physicians to ensure your children have a clean bill of health before
heading back to school.