HEALTH The back-to-school health checklist

Know your back-to-school  health checklist


Tips on preparing children for a healthy new school term

Ask the Pharmacist
Karen Jordan

The new school year is around the corner with uniforms, books and stationery on the shopping list. Added to this list of practicalities should be a back-to-school health checklist to help give your child a healthy start to the new term.

Germ control
In the early school years, your child’s immune system is put to the test. Frequent hand-washing is one of the most-simple and most-effective ways to stay healthy in school. Remind your child to wash his or her hands before eating and after using the toilet, blowing his or her nose or playing outside. Give your child a pack of tissues to keep at his or her desk to prevent the spread of germs.

Lice patrol
Head lice commonly affect school-goers, with most children getting them at least once during their school years. Head lice are passed on when there is close head-to-head contact, as these insects cannot jump or fly. It doesn’t matter if hair is clean or not: They’re not fussy!
Signs of head lice include specks of black powder in the scalp or on the pillow (lice droppings); white, empty ‘cases’ on the hair strand (left after lice have hatched); an itchy scalp or the presence of a live head louse, a tiny black insect, on the hair. It’s important to bear in mind that treatment should only be given once head lice have actually been seen. Using chemical treatments as a preventative does not work and may even cause the lice to become resistant should they present in a child. Repellent sprays may be of benefit here.
Once head lice have been spotted, treatment options include chemical insecticides that destroy both eggs and the lice. Non-insecticides physically smother the lice and allow them to be easily washed or combed out of the hair; this is particularly useful for lice that are resistant to insecticides. Irrespective of the treatment chosen, a second application should be applied after seven days to eliminate any lice that have hatched since the initial treatment. Wet combing is an effective but time-consuming method of removing head lice and their eggs. It involves applying conditioner to shampooed hair and combing small sections with a fine-toothed comb every four days for two weeks.
While it’s important to treat the child affected, other children and people in close contact should be checked for head lice. Your pharmacist can recommend the most suitable product for your child.

Catch the worm
Threadworms are also common in children. These pinworm parasites live in the intestines and can produce symptoms such as an itchy bottom, disturbed sleep and occasionally visible white threads after a bowel movement. If a child scratches, the eggs may be transferred onto surfaces and therefore, to others. Unlike head lice, if one person in the house has threadworms, the whole household should be treated. This treatment must be repeated 14-21 days later. Keeping the nails short and hands clean, wearing underwear in bed and having a morning shower can help to prevent the spread of threadworm.

Serene routine
After the holidays, ensuring kids get back into the earlier bedtime routine can be difficult. Create a good bedtime environment by switching off TVs, DVDs and iPads at least an hour before bed.
Help kids wind down properly by having a bath or reading a book with Mum or Dad. A dimmed nightlight may be comforting and music often works to mask traffic and noise around the house. Blackout blinds can create a nighttime atmosphere even if it’s still bright outside.
Being back in the classroom after the summer break means it’s easy to pick up minor illnesses again.
If you have any queries on any health issues and you child, be sure to speak to your pharmacist.

Karen Jordan is a pharmacist in Lally’s Lloyds Pharmacy, Mill Street, Westport.