Health News

There are a lot of colds, runny noses and respiratory illnesses. If your child has been throwing up or has a fever, please keep them home for 24 hours after the vomiting stops and their temperature is normal. They need time to feel better, and we don't want the entire classroom sick! Children are ideal agents of disease transmission. They can spread viruses among one another and then bring their germs home, spreading illness among family members. Promoting healthy habits will help reduce the spread of germs in school and at home.  Below are a few tips which help in preventing the spreading of germs. Ilmi Carter, RN

New Immunization Practices
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) periodically reviews the recommended immunization schedule for children from newborn to age eighteen.  There are new recommendations for school aged children and parents will want to speak with their health care providers about the changes.  Varicella or Chickenpox Vaccine
The Varicella or chickenpox vaccine will require a second dose. For parents of young children, the first dose should be given at age 12-15 months and the newly recommended second dose should be given at age 4-6 years.  At this time, children in school require only one dose, however this will probably change.
Tdap Vaccine Tdap (Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine) is now recommended for all children age 11-12 years old.  This vaccine is in place of the old Td booster and will given children further protection against pertussis, or whooping cough. Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) is newly recommended for routine vaccination of female children aged 11-13 years.  This vaccine has recently been in the news because some states are attempting to pass laws that say this vaccine should be mandatory.  In Maine, it is recommended and not required.  This vaccine is administered in 3 separate doses. Meningococcal Vaccine Meningococcal vaccine has been recommended in the past for college freshmen living in dormitories. It has recently become available for children aged 11-12 years to offer protection against meningococcal meningitis.

Health Hazards of Magnets and Button Batteries      Toys may contain small, powerful magnets or batteries that cause unique health hazards if swallowed. One small study showed that magnets were swallowed by children who were at least 3 years old, and that magnets were more often swallowed by boys. In some cases, the magnets were swallowed intentionally, "on a dare".      Magnets from toys are generally small enough to pass through the digestive tract, but if a child swallows more than one magnet, the magnets can join together and damage intestinal tissue. Button batteries can also cause serious damage if swallowed, such as alkaline burns or rupture of the esophagus. Children should be cautioned about these dangers. Notify your physician right away if you believe that your child may have swallowed one of these items.      Mattel recalled Polly Pocket TMplay sets and Rose Art Industries recalled Magnetix magnetic building sets in 2006. They may still be found in other markets such as garage sales or EBay, though.