Published: August 24, 2008 10:47 pm      

Prevention stressed for schoolyard bugs

Mandatory immunizations for childhood diseases have made serious outbreaks of chicken pox, measles and mumps a thing of the past for local schools.

But a few pesky afflictions are bound to work their way through classrooms, and school nurses are preparing for them.

“We do a lot of prevention,” nurse Pat Gombita said from Somerset Area Junior-Senior High School. “Our teachers promote proper hand washing. We teach students to sneeze into your sleeve, not your hand.”

Gombita’s advice follows Centers for Disease Prevention and Control suggestions to prevent the spread of viruses that usually cause colds, flu and upper respiratory infections. The CDC also recommends avoiding close contact with others and staying home when ill.

Schools have taken the lead in disease prevention, Dr. Dennis Glover said from his family practice office at 318 Goucher St.

“Everybody is into washing hands,” he said. “Overall, it’s not like it once was.”

Despite the precautions, Glover expects to see his share of colds, strep throat and pink eye through the year.

Fifth disease, head lice infestations and hand, foot and mouth disease are conditions that seem to prey on young children, Glover said.

Fifth disease

Caused by a parvovirus, fifth disease is characterized by a rash that often appears as if a child’s cheeks were slapped. It is usually mild and requires no treatment. In fact, by the time symptoms develop, it is no longer contagious. After a person has fifth disease, they become immune.

Women, however, are at a slightly increased risk of complications and miscarriage if they contract fifth disease during pregnancy. A blood test will show whether the woman is immune from previous exposure, whether she recently contracted the virus, or whether she has not contracted the bug, the CDC reports. A doctor can advise women on monitoring the pregnancy if they have contracted the virus.

Hand, foot, mouth

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a virus that causes blisters on those areas, Glover said.

There is no specific treatment, although medication soothes a sore throat.

“It gets better on its own,” he said.

Both viruses are spread by direct contact, which can be reduced with proper sanitation and hand washing.

Schools are helping children to understand the risks, said Doris Valentine, a nurse in the Meyersdale School District.

“Last year, when the flu and stomach viruses were going around, the teachers really stressed washing their hands and coughing into their sleeves,” Valentine said.

Both school nurses said building maintenance workers emphasize cleaning and sanitation and do extra cleaning in rooms with elevated absentee rates. Such efforts reduce the spread of viruses and staph infections, including resistant staph, MRSA.

Head lice

But cleaning desks won’t prevent head lice.

“Head lice: That is the school nurse’s curse,” Valentine said.

“It’s always there. We try to work with the parents to help them understand.”

It has nothing to do with personal hygiene or cleanliness, Glover stressed. Head lice usually spread from person to person by sharing combs, brushes or clothing items.

“They understand that until their own child gets it,” Valentine said.

Fortunately, head lice can be successfully removed with medications such as Nix and Rid, or with mayonnaise, Glover said.

“Mayonnaise works, but it’s hard to get out of the hair,” he said.