Common Health Problems in the School Setting Carlos Alvarez, Daisy Ayon, Emma Barrios, Ryan Alba

Overview ●School nurses ●Helping School nurses ●Terms associated with diseases and common school health problem ●Health Problems, Diseases Common in Kids

School Nurse ●Role of School nurses: ○assess to see if children are actually ill or are dealing with somatic reflecting emotional issues. ○Educate and informs parents and administrators on what illnesses are manageable at school or handled in a more restrictive manner. ○Periodically assembles staff workshop to reinforce attendance and quality attention in the classroom. ●According to the CSNO in 2013 the student to nurse ratio is 2,848:1 ●The recommended ratio is 750:1

Helping the School Nurse How can a teacher assist in this situation: ●First, children with chronic health conditions spend most of their day in a school setting; illness management can alter their daily management ●What teachers must do is understand medical issues in order to make better decisions about keeping the child in class rather than sending them to the school nurse ●Practice universal precaution ●Always respect the privacy of students and their parents by not revealing or discussing medical issues in front of others, especially classmates ●Teacher must strive to keep kids in school unless there is a genuine and and persistent medical condition that should be managed at home

Terms associated with diseases and common school health problem ●Infectious Agent (Pathogen) - Microorganism that causes a disease (Bacteria, Viruses, parasites, fungi, etc..) ●Reservoir of Infection - The organism, animal, person, plant, water, or food that allows the infectious agent to live ●Portal of Entry - Route a pathogen takes to enter a host. Ex: mucous membranes, skin, respiratory system, and GI tract. ●Means of Transmission - Route followed by the expelled pathogen into the new host. Includes eyes, mouth, mucus, or the skin.

Terms associated with diseases and common school health problem ●Direct Contact - Person to person uninterrupted contact from kissing, touching or sexual contact. ●Indirect Contact - Contract a pathogen without coming into direct contact with the infected person or bodily fluids. (Airborne or Object contamination) ●Host - Organism that harbors or nourishes another organism (parasite). Includes head lice or strep throat bacteria. ●Immunity - Resistance or security against a given disease.

Terms associated with diseases and common school health problem ●Antibodies - Protein substances produced in the body to fight against pathogens or infectious diseases. ●Antigens - Protein that stimulates an immune response against a pathogen and aids in producing antibodies. ●Epidemic - Classification that appears as a new case within a given population during a specific time period. (Whooping Cough 2010) ●Pandemic - Classification of a disease that spreads through human populations across a wide range or region, such as a continent or worldwide.

Health Problems, Diseases Common in Kids ●Most health issues of students involve some element of universal precautions. For example: nosebleeds, pink eye or impetigo can betransmitted by touch. ●Therefor hand washing should be emphasized for all students and staff. ● Minor first aid problems could be handled by the teacher, so the student doesn’t make unnecessary trips to the health office. (Matza, 391)

Epistaxis (nosebleeds) ● Nosebleeds in class may not be a major problem. ● Teachers should be prepared to help students overcome discomfort and embarrassment. ● Follow these simple steps. (Matza, 391) 1. Students should seat with head erect, lean forward to avoid drainage into the throat. 2. Have the student apply firm but gentle pressure over the bleeding nostril for 10 min. 3. Apply cold compress. 4. Notify Parents/guardian if nosebleed doesn’t stop within 15 minutes.

Conjunctivitis “Pink Eye” Description: is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane that lines the eyelid. Pink eye is caused by bacteria, viruses, sunlight, wind, contaminated eye drops, allergy and other irritants. Transmission: by direct contact of infected area or by fingers, clothing or objects. Treatment: antibiotics, eye drops, cool/warm compresses and hand washing is a must. (Matza, 392)

Description: superficial bacterial infection of the skin common among children 2-6 years old. Impetigo is also common in people who play contact sports like football and wrestling regardless of their age. Transmission: infection is spread by direct contact with nasal carriers or wounds. Treatment: antibiotic applied locally or systemically under doctor’s supervision. Students should not return to school until affected areas are dry. (Matza, 393) Impetigo

Hand Washing!!! Please, remember that by washing your hands and avoiding direct contact with others might reduce your exposure to infections. Hand Washing Song

Sty (Hordeolum) can be transmitted by an object or simple touch of a hand infection that is present in a gland near the root of your eyelashes and lower eyelid redness, swelling in the localized area of the eye; slight blurred vision; may also resemble a pimple near the eye damp cloth on infected area may help drainage of infection fluids school setting: good handwashing is advise and not to other students to prevent further infection

Asthma the most COMMON respiratory ailment in children co-exist with allergies and other allergens caused by inflammation in the airways which results in wheezing and breathlessness asthma is a complex; both biological and physical facotrs not transferrable symptoms: caughing, weezing, irregular breathing, chest pain, unusal sweating, fever and stomanch pain a inhaler, nebulizer, rest, fluids.

Diabetes happens when insulin (converts sugars and starches) is not used or produced both environmental and behavior factors - lack of excersice, obesity greater than 20mil. adults and kids have diabetes 2 TYPES: Type 1 and Type 2 IDDM (insulin dependent diabetes melliuts) and NIDDM (non-insuln dependent diabetes melliuts. Currently, TYPE 2 is more common in recent years blood test can be taken to determine sugar level treatment : injections of insulin can be administered, regular diet and excerise and weight management in a school setting, studnets will need special attention if they have high or low blood sugar resulting from diabetes

Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder Description: Neurological condition that produces disturbances in the normal electrical functions of the brain. Epilepsy occurs when normal pattern of nerve functions may be interrupted by irregular bursts of intense energy. Recurrent seizures. (Matza, p.396) Seizures can occur without having epilepsy -Generalized Seizures affect numerous nerve cells in the brain -Partial Seizures are bursts in energy in one area of the brain

Causes Provokes Seizures(single) ●trauma ●low blood sugar(hypoglycemia) ●low blood sodium ●high fever(occur in infants mostly) ●alcohol/drug abuse Seizure Disorder(Epilepsy) ● exposure to toxic agents ●infectious/structural abnormalities in brain ●no reasons understood...

Symptoms/Treatment Symptoms ●short periods of blackout/confused memory ●“fainting spells” bowel control is lost ●blank starring, no response to instruction (important for teacher) ●muscle jerks of arms, legs, body Treatment ●brain surgery-remove area of brain causing seizures, interrupt nerve pathways, implant a device ●medicine-used to control seizures, not cure ex:tegretol,zarontin,felbatol,gabitril, keppra,lyrica (webmd)

Allergies Description: overreaction of the body’s defense system to substance, or allergen. when this happens the body releases the enzyme histamine that triggers an allergic reaction Causes/Triggers: ●pollen ●animal hair/dander ●dust ●feathers ●insect bites/stings

Be Aware Food! ●peanuts is a common product that children have extremely severe allergic reactions to -most common cause of life-threatening allergic reactions; 80% fatal/near-fatal reactions annually (Matza, 399) * 1.5 million people suffer from peanut allergies in U.S. Recommandation: don’t allow food in classroom, never know who is possibly allergic to what foods

Scoliosis Description: vertebral column (spine) curved from side to side, may be rotated as well. Spine looks like an ‘S’ or ‘C’ (Matza, 399) Causes : ●anomalies at birth ●people w/ cerebral palsy or spinal muscular atrophy ●family history; increases risk up to seven times! School nurses are required to check for Scoliosis Treatment : special braces students must wear day/night for 2- 4 years. Severe cases may require surgery

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and-epilepsy#2http:// and-epilepsy# nurses_ratio_and_rank_2013_1.pdf NASNPositionStatementsFullView/tabid/462/ArticleId/87/Role-of- the-School-Nurse-Revised-2011 References