The Merriam School Nurse is Betty Mazzone. The Health Office Phone Number is 978.264.4700 x3752.
For a full discussion of health policies for Merriam and the Acton Public Schools, please refer to the Merriam Handbook and the District Pupil Services site. Latest news about the H1N1 flu is on the AB District website.
The CDC recommends reminding children to:
Other reminders:
Medication administration is an important issue in schools. Some students require medications at school in order to survive. Others need medications in order to learn. Occasionally, students require antibiotics during the day following a bacterial infection.
The goal of the Merriam School Nurse is to administer only those medications that are absolutely necessary during the school day. All other medications should be given at home either before or after school.
State law requires a written order by a licensed prescriber and written parental permission before any medication can be administered to students, including over-the-counter medications. You can obtain forms for this purpose from the School Nurse, or from most health care providers.
All medication MUST be in the original labeled container and be labeled with the student's name. The School Nurse will NOT administer expired medications, medications delivered in unlabeled containers, and medications in inappropriate containers such as ziploc bags. For the safety of all students, no medications are to be carried to school by students. (The only exception to this rule is for Junior High and High School students who are allowed to carry inhalers or Epi-pens after certain requirements are met.)
With your help, the School Nurse can provide a safe, supervised environment for students who require medications at school. Feel free to contact the Merriam School Nurse, Betty Mazzone RN, at (978) 264-4700, x3752 with any questions.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) recently revised several aspects of the reporting and containment requirements for communicable diseases. In summary, healthcare providers, including school nurses and school physicians, are required to report to the Board of Health and/or DPH numerous communicable diseases.
From such reporting, the local Board of Health may then use its powers to isolate and quarantine. The DPH defines these two basic concepts as the following:
The minimum quarantine periods for the following illnesses as they specifically address school students/employees are:
If a student is not immunized due to religious or medical exemptions and has been exposed to a communicable disease, the parent/guardian will be notified explaining the exclusion requirements prior to the exclusion period. The child may only attend school with a doctor's letter verifying vaccination or a blood test showing immunity. If you have any questions regarding communicable diseases and your child, please contact your school nurse, or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800.
What is Fifth Disease? It is a mild rash illness that usually affects children, and is commonly seen in late winter and early spring. It is caused by Parvovirus B19, which lives in the nose and throat, and can be spread from person to person. The first stage of illness consists of headache, body ache, sore throat, low-grade fever and chills. These symptoms last about two to three days and are followed by a second stage, lasting about a week, during which the person has no symptoms at all. Individuals are most infectious before the beginning of their symptoms. In children, the third stage involves a bright red rash on the cheeks, which gives a "slapped cheek" appearance, and may be followed by a "lacy" rash on the trunk, arms and legs. The rash begins 17 to 18 days after exposure, and may appear on and off for several weeks with changes in temperature, sunlight and emotional stress. Adults may not develop the third-stage rash but may experience joint pain, particularly in the hands and feet. The disease is usually mild, and both children and adults recover without problems.
How is it treated? There is no specific treatment for Fifth Disease. Health care providers may suggest treatment to relieve some symptoms. There is no vaccine to prevent Fifth Disease.
Must a child stay home? Children with Fifth Disease do NOT have to stay home. By the time they are diagnosed with the rash, they are no longer contagious.
What should you do? Watch for symptoms and notify the school nurse if you suspect your child has Fifth Disease. If you are pregnant, or have a blood disorder or weakened immune system, tell your health care provider about possible exposure. Finally, always be careful about hand washing, especially after touching discharge from the nose and throat and before eating or handling food.
Ticks are bugs that feed on the blood of mammals, birds and reptiles. Deer ticks and dog ticks are found throughout Massachusetts and may spread different disease–causing germs when they bite. Ticks are generally found in grassy, brushy or wooded areas. Ticks do not fly or jump. They attach to animals or people that come into direct contact with them.
Deer ticks: Both nymph (young) and adult deer ticks will bite humans. The highest risk of being bitten by a deer tick occurs throughout the spring, summer and fall. However, adult deer ticks can search for a host any time winter temperatures are above freezing. Deer tick nymphs are the size of a poppy seed and deer tick adults are the size of a sesame seed.
Dog ticks: In general, only the adult dog tick will bite humans. The highest risk of being bitten by a dog tick occurs during the spring and summer. Adult dog ticks are about the size of a watermelon seed.
How can I protect my family from tick bites? The single most important thing you can do is check yourself for ticks once a day. Favorite places ticks like to go on the body include areas between the toes, back of the knees, groin, armpits, neck, along the hairline and behind the ears. Remember to check your children and pets, too.
Use repellents that contain DEET on exposed skin and those that contain permethrin on clothing. Be sure to read product labels to ensure safe and proper usage.
Stick to main pathways and the center of trails when hiking. Wear long- sleeved, light-colored shirts and long pants tucked into socks. This will keep ticks away from your skin and make it easier to spot a tick on your clothing.
There is currently no human vaccine available to protect against Lyme disease or any other tick-borne disease found in Massachusetts.
What should I do if I find a tick on myself or my child? The tick should be carefully removed as soon as possible. The longer an infected tick remains attached to a person or animal, the higher the likelihood of disease transmission. Use fine point tweezers to grip the mouthparts of the tick as close to the skin as possible. The tick should not be squeezed or twisted, but pulled straight outward with steady, gentle pressure.
You should not apply kerosene, petroleum jelly, nail polish or a hot match tip to remove the tick; these measures are not effective and may result in injury. Notify your health care provider if you have been bitten by a deer tick, or if you develop a rash or other flu-like symptoms following a tick bite.
Further information can be found at mass.gov/dph and cdc.gov.
Latest news about the H1N1 flu is on the AB District website.
What is the Flu?
The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which infects the lungs, nose, and throat. The virus is easily passed from one person to another by coughing and sneezing. For most people, the flu makes them feel very sick, but they generally get better in about a week. In New England, flu season usually begins in December and lasts until April.
Symptoms of the Flu include:
Sudden onset of high fever (102-104 °F; 39-40°C) lasting 3-5 days, headache, muscle and body aches, exhaustion which can last 2 weeks or more, and dry cough. Some people may be unsure if they have a cold or the flu. Colds are usually milder and do not come on suddenly. Cold symptoms include stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, and cough.
Treatment of Flu symptoms:
Rest in bed. Drink lot of fluids. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Stay home for at least 3-5 days after you get sick so you don't pass the flu to others. Call your doctor for any of the following reasons: fever that does not get better after 3-5 days; difficulty breathing; chest pain; cough lasting more than 7-10 days and/or accompanied by mucus that is green, rust-colored, or bloody; you are not able to drink enough fluids.
Reducing risk:
Get a flu shot every year. Wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Cover your mouth with a tissue or your arm when you cough or sneeze. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Avoid close contact with others who are sick.
For more information about the flu, please go to the Massachusetts Departhment of Public Health.
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children. In the United States 1 in every 400 – 600 children has Type I diabetes. (National Diabetes Education Program).
"Diabetes is a chronic disease that impairs the body's ability to use food properly. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that is necessary for the body to convert food into energy. In people with diabetes, either the pancreas doesn't make insulin, the body cannot use the insulin properly, or both. Without insulin, glucose (sugar) builds up in the blood." (American Diabetes Association)
Early detection and knowledge of the warning signs is your greatest weapon against the disease and its complications. Behaviors a child might exhibit in school that could indicate undiagnosed diabetes are:
Other symptoms may include:
Note: Many of these symptoms can be related to illnesses that are not associated with diabetes. Only a healthcare professional can provide appropriate diagnostic tests and treatments.
References:
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires all students entering grade 7 in September to have:
Many of the above vaccines may have been administered while your child was in elementary school. Please check with your health care provider to be certain that your child's immunizations are up-to-date and documented in his or her record. If you send a copy of the exam and updated information record to your elementary school health office, the information will be included in your child's health record when it is transferred to the Junior High School in June. If you do not have the necessary paperwork completed before the end of school, send it to the School Nurse at the junior high by the end of August.
