Health Resources

Influenza Information

As we face flu season every year, it is important to help you and your student stay healthy and safe.

1. Wash your hands frequently.
2. Cover your coughs and sneezes
3. Stay home when you are sick, keep your children home from school when they are sick.
4. Do NOT send your children to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.  (a fever is a temperature of 100 degrees or higher)

Here is a helpful quick checklist on symptoms of cold vs. flu:

Symptoms	Common Cold	Flu
Tired	Mild	Moderate to Severe
Fever	Low Grade	Higher than 100 degrees F
Chills	Rare	Common
Body Aches	Slight	Common, possibly severe
Headache	Less Common	Common
Stuffy Nose	Common	Less Common
Sore Throat	Common	Less Common
Cough	Hacking cough that brings up mucus	Dry, tickly, unproductive cough
Chest Discomfort	Mild to Moderate	Often Severe

Links:

• Get a Flu Shot
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• King County Public Health Department
• Washington State Department of Health

Head Lice Information

Head lice are small insects with six legs usually the size of a sesame seed (the seeds on burger buns).

Head lice feed on human blood several times during a 24 hour period. The primary symptom of head lice is scalp itch. This is caused by a reaction to the saliva a head louse deposits as it bites into the host.

They live on or very close to the scalp and don’t wander far down the hair shafts for very long. They are best seen in bright light and will move if light is directed to scalp. They are common in the area behind the ears and the back of the neck.

They can only live on human beings; you can’t catch them from animals (or spread them to animals). Nits are not the same thing as lice. Lice are the insects which move around the head. Nits are egg cases laid by lice, stuck on to hair shafts with sticky glue; they are smaller than a pin head and are pearly white. They are usually within 1 inch from the scalp and must be pulled off with a NIT comb or fingernail. If object can be “blown” or “whisked” from hair it is most likely dry skin or dandruff.

If you have nits it doesn’t always mean that you have head lice. When you have got rid of all the live lice, the nits must be combed out of hair over a period of days and weeks before they hatch.

You only have head lice if you can find a living, moving louse (not a nit) on the scalp.

Anybody can get head lice. It is not a sign of uncleanliness or poor housekeeping.

Head lice infections are caught from close family and friends in the home and community, not from the school. Sleep overs with shared pillows is a common reason for the spread of lice.

Spread of head lice requires direct head to head contact. They can’t swim, fly, hop or jump.

Prevention

The best way to stop infection is for families to learn how to check their own heads. This way they can find any lice before they have a chance to breed or nits hatch. Checks should be done weekly.

If lice/nits are found – treat immediately and thoroughly. Contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist for treatment recommendations. Treatment may include products containing pesticides that are applied to the hair and scalp along with consistent, frequent nit combing.

Instruct children not to share hats, combs, brushes, uniforms, barrettes, etc. Avoid hugging, reading and talking with heads touching etc. Long hair may be secured in pony tail or braided.

All bedding, towels, and clothing from the infected individual should be cleaned with soap and hot water and placed in a dryer for at least 20 minutes to help kill any remaining lice. Dry-clean all clothes that need to be dry-cleaned. Seal the infested individual’s stuffed toys in a plastic bag and leave them for 10 days to allow all lice to die of starvation. Dispose of or soak combs and hairbrushes in rubbing alcohol or the medicated shampoo used to kill lice. Throw out any hair accessories, such as hair elastics and ribbons. Thoroughly vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture.

Pets cannot become infested with head and body lice, so no precaution is required.

If lice are found – please notify the school and any family, friends and organizations (scout groups, clubs, athletic teams, etc.) that have been in close contact with your child.

Checking for Head Lice

1. Go to the well-lit area in or outside your home.

2. Use your regular comb or brush to completely detangle the hair.

3. Then, move (section/part) your child’s hair and using the magnifying glasses or similar, look at the areas called the “hot spots” – behind the ears, at the nape of the neck, above the forehead and at the crown (warm areas on the head where fertilized female head lice like to lay their eggs). Look at any areas red from itching! Look for tiny poppy-seed sized eggs, stuck to the hair shaft (meaning you’d need to use your fingernails to loosen them) and generally close to the scalp. They’re usually in quarter-sized clusters. They can be dark in color or light in color but in general, viable nits are plump and darkish (especially on dark hair.) If you can dislodge something on the hair shaft or scalp with a flick of the finger or by blowing on it, it’s NOT a head lice nit.

4. If you’ve found nothing, spray the hair with the water or a combination of water and diluted conditioner until it is very wet. Detangle again with a standard comb or brush to remove all knots.

5. With the head lice comb, start combing small sections of hair (may need clips – pins to hold hair up and out of the way) – from the scalp to the ends of the hair. After three or four swipes through the hair section with the lice comb, wipe the comb (front and back) on a piece of white paper towel or a white tissue. Bugs and nits will be evident – gray brownish in color. Be methodical. Continue doing this, multi-directionally (nits can be anywhere on the hair shaft so you need to comb from underneath and from the sides) until you’ve lice combed the entire head. With long/thick hair, you might want to use the clips to separate areas you’ve already lice combed from areas you’ve not.

6. If you perform a thorough lice combing on the entire head and find nothing, it’s highly unlikely that a case of head lice is present.

7. If you pull bugs (either adult lice or maturing nymphs), they will be crawling a bit on the piece of paper towel/tissue. (If they have wings, they’re not head lice). After you pull a couple of bugs or SEVERAL (more than two ) nits, there’s no need to continue with the head check. The individual needs to be treated.

8. If you find only a nit or two in combing the entire head and no bugs, it’s highly unlikely that the person has an active case of head lice and we’d recommend just a nightly head lice combing for two weeks (using the diluted conditioner referred to above only.)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Disease

The Washington State Legislature requires school districts to make information available to all parents or guardians of students entering grades 6 through 12 about human papillomavirus (HPV) and how to prevent it.

What is HPV?

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). There were about 43 million HPV infections in 2018, many among people in their late teens and early 20s. There are many different types of HPV. Some types can cause health problems, including genital warts and cancers. But there are vaccines that can stop these health problems from happening. HPV is a different virus than HIV and HSV (herpes).

How is HPV spread?

You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. It is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex. It also spreads through close skin-to-skin touching during sex. A person with HPV can pass the infection to someone even when they have no signs or symptoms.

If you are sexually active, you can get HPV, even if you have had sex with only one person. You also can develop symptoms years after having sex with someone who has the infection. This makes it hard to know when you first got it.

Does HPV cause health problems?

In most cases (9 out of 10), HPV goes away on its own within two years without health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer.

Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. A healthcare provider can usually diagnose warts by looking at the genital area.

Does HPV cause cancer?

HPV can cause cervical and other cancers, including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause cancer in the back of the throat (called oropharyngeal cancer). This can include the base of the tongue and tonsils.
Cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV. Genital warts and cancers result from different types of HPV.
There is no way to know who will develop cancer or other health problems from HPV. People with weak immune systems (including those with HIV) may be less able to fight off HPV. They may also be more likely to develop health problems from HPV.

Who should get the HPV vaccine?

CDC recommends HPV vaccination for:

• All preteens (including boys and girls) at age 11 or 12 years (or can start at age 9 years).
• Everyone through age 26 years, if not vaccinated already.

Get vaccinated. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. It can protect against diseases (including cancers) caused by HPV when given in the recommended age groups.

How do I know if I have HPV?

There is no test to find out a person’s “HPV status.” Also, there is no approved HPV test to find HPV in the mouth or throat.
There are HPV tests that can screen for cervical cancer. Healthcare providers only use these tests for screening women aged 30 years and older. HPV tests are not recommended to screen men, adolescents, or women under the age of 30 years.
Most people with HPV do not know they have the infection. They never develop symptoms or health problems from it. Some people find out they have HPV when they get genital warts. Women may find out they have HPV when they get an abnormal Pap test result (during cervical cancer screening). Others may only find out once they’ve developed more serious problems from HPV, such as cancers.

Where can I find the HPV vaccine?

Ask your doctor, nurse, or local health clinic to find out more about HPV vaccine and where you can get it. Patients younger than 19 years of age can get HPV vaccine for free in Washington State. Some health care providers’ offices charge an administration fee or an office visit fee. You can ask to waive the administration fee if you can’t pay. For people age 19 and older, the vaccine is available from many clinics and pharmacies. Most health insurance plans cover the vaccine for people recommended to get it. Call your health plan to check your coverage. For adults without health insurance, the companies that make these vaccines have programs to help pay for them. Find out if your health care provider participates in these programs.

For more information about HPV, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s HPV information webpage.

Meningococcal Disease Information

As of July 2005 schools in Washington are required to provide information on meningococcal disease to parents or guardians of all students entering grades 6-12.

What is Meningococcal Disease?

Meningococcal disease can refer to any illness caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. Meningococcal disease is not very common in the United States, but teens and young adults are at increased risk.

The two most common types of illnesses include infections of the:

• Lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
• Bloodstream

Even with treatment, about 10 to 15 out of 100 people with meningococcal disease will die from it. Meningococcal vaccines are the best way to protect preteens and teens from getting meningococcal disease.

What are the symptoms of Meningococcal Disease?

When someone has meningococcal meningitis, the bacteria infect the lining of the brain and spinal cord and cause swelling.

The most common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Stiff neck

There are often additional symptoms, such as

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Photophobia (eyes being more sensitive to light)
• Altered mental status (confusion)

Newborns and babies may not have the classic symptoms listed above, or it may be difficult to notice those symptoms in babies. Instead, babies may be slow or inactive, irritable, vomiting, feeding poorly, or have a bulging anterior fontanelle (the soft spot of the skull). In young children, doctors may also look at the child’s reflexes for signs of meningitis.
When someone has meningococcal septicemia, the bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply, damaging the walls of the blood vessels. This causes bleeding into the skin and organs.

Symptoms may include:

• Fever and chills
• Fatigue (feeling tired)
• Vomiting
• Cold hands and feet
• Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly)
• Rapid breathing
• Diarrhea
• In the later stages, a dark purple rash

How is Meningococcal Disease spread?

People spread meningococcal bacteria to other people by sharing respiratory and throat secretions (saliva or spit). Generally, it takes close (for example, coughing or kissing) or lengthy contact to spread these bacteria. Fortunately, they are not as contagious as germs that cause the common cold or the flu. People do not catch the bacteria through casual contact or by breathing air where someone with meningococcal disease has been.
Sometimes the bacteria spread to people who have had close or lengthy contact with a patient with meningococcal disease. Those at increased risk of getting sick include:

• People in the same household
• Roommates
• Anyone with direct contact with the patient’s oral secretions, such as a kissing partner

Close contacts of someone with meningococcal disease should receive antibiotics to help prevent them from getting the disease. Experts call this prophylaxis (pro-fuh-lak-sis). This does not mean that the contacts have the disease; the antibiotics are given to prevent them from becoming ill. Health departments investigate each case of meningococcal disease to identify all close contacts and make sure they receive prophylaxis. People who are not a close contact of someone with meningococcal disease do not need prophylaxis.

How can I prevent it?

Keeping up to date with recommended vaccines is the best protection against meningococcal disease. Maintaining healthy habits, like getting plenty of rest and not having close contact with people who are sick, also helps.

Is there a vaccine?

All preteens and teens should get 2 doses of the meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine. They should get the first dose at ages 11-12 and a booster dose at 16 years old. If your teen hasn’t gotten this meningococcal shot, talk to their doctor or nurse about getting it as soon as possible.

Teens and young adults (16 through 23 years old) may also get a serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccine (2 doses). The preferred age to get MenB vaccine is 16 through 18 years old. Talk with your teen’s doctor or nurse about meningococcal vaccination to help protect your child’s health.

Most health insurance plans cover routine vaccinations. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program also provides vaccines for children 18 years and younger who are uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid-eligible, American Indian, or Alaska Native. Learn more at VFCprogram.

For more information about Meningococcal Disease, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Meningococcal Disease webpage.

Whooping Cough Information (pertussis)

What is whooping cough (pertussis)?

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial infection, and one of the most common vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States.

How does whooping cough spread?

Whooping cough is usually spread by coughing or sneezing. If untreated, an infected person can spread whooping cough for several weeks.

What are the symptoms?

The disease usually starts with mild cold symptoms or a cough, which can turn into severe coughing spells. The coughing spells can take place for 10 weeks or more.

• In infants, the cough may be mild or absent. However, infants may have a symptom known as “apnea,” which is a pause in breathing.
• Infants and children can cough violently and rapidly, until the air is gone from their lungs and they’re forced to inhale with a loud “whooping” sound. This extreme coughing can result in vomiting and exhaustion. Illness is generally less severe in adolescents and adults.

Babies and whooping cough

Babies are especially vulnerable to whooping cough. They often catch the illness from older siblings, parents, or other caregivers. Pregnant women should receive Tdap, the adult whooping cough vaccine, as early as possible in the third trimester of every pregnancy to protect their babies. The third trimester is between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation.

• More than half of infants less than 1 year of age who get the disease must be hospitalized.
• About 1 in 5 infants with whooping cough get pneumonia (lung infection).
• About 1 in 100 infants will have convulsions.
• About 1 in 100 infants who are hospitalized will die from whooping cough.

How can I prevent whooping cough?

DTaP vaccine: Infants and children under 7 should receive the DTaP vaccine. To maximize protection, all 5 doses of DTaP are needed on time according to the recommended immunization schedule.

Tdap vaccine: Adolescents and adults need the Tdap vaccine. The protection received from DTaP, the childhood vaccine, fades over time. Adolescents and should get Tdap even if they were completely vaccinated as children. The Tdap vaccine is especially important for pregnant women, family members with and caregivers of new infants.

For more information about Whooping Cough (pertussis), please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Whooping Cough webpage.