It seems to happen at least once every school year – a letter coming home advising that head lice is in a classroom, or a child comes home with pink eye. Both of these aren’t exactly rare and are easily remedied in most situations.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has laid out what to do for head lice on its website. They note head lice aren’t dangerous, and don’t carry any diseases, but they are an annoyance. The lice are about the size of a sesame seed, while their eggs, called nits, look like tiny yellow or white dots attached to the hair, close to the scalp.
Head lice can usually be treated at home with over-the-counter medicines – generally creams or shampoos that are applied directly to the scalp. The SHA recommends following the directions of the medicine carefully. Most require just a single treatment, while some need a second treatment. They also advise to not use the medicine more than needed.
Around the house, they suggest soaking hair brushes, combs, barrettes and other items in hot water for 10 minutes. Clothes, bedding, towels, and hats that have touched the head in the last two days should be machine-washed and then dried in a hot dryer.
Carpets, mattresses, couches and upholstered furniture can just be vacuumed.
Another common condition that children will encounter is pink eye. The SHA says pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is redness and swelling of the mucous membrane that lines the eyelid and eye surface. Most cases of pink eye are caused by a viral or bacterial infection, and this can be very contagious.
Viral pink eye often comes from an adenovirus, which is responsible for things like a sore throat or an upper respiratory infection. The symptoms include redness in the white of the eye, a burning or itching feeling in the eyelids, a lot of tearing, and a clear or slightly thick, whitish drainage.
The symptoms of viral pink eye often get better within 7-10 days, however, they may last up to three weeks. Home treatment can help with comfort while the infection does away. However, it may be more serious if you have an impaired immune system, vision in only one eye, or wear contact lenses.
In cases of viral pink eye, a person can usually return to school, daycare, or work once symptoms start to improve, which is generally in 3 to 5 days.
Bacterial pink eye has similar symptoms, but generally has a grey or yellow drainage from the eye that may cause the eyelashes to stick together, in addition to mild pain and swelling of the upper eyelid. There is often more drainage than there is with viral pink eye.
A bacterial pink eye infection usually lasts seven to ten days and two to four days with antibiotic treatment. Someone who is dealing with bacterial pink eye can usually return to daycare, school or work 24 hours after an antibiotic treatment has started, as long as conditions improve.