What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are a parasitic insect. Human blood is their preferred food, but they will also feed on rodents, bats, birds, and pets, if humans aren’t available.

How do bed bugs grow and develop?
During its life cycle, a bed bug hatches from an egg into a nymph and sheds its old skin five times before becoming a full sized adult, about the size of an apple seed. Eggs are glued onto a surface by the adult female bed bug. All nymphal stages and adults require blood meals.

What do bed bugs look like?
Adult bed bugs are small but visible to the naked eye. An adult bed bug is from 1/4-3/8 inches long and is reddish brown. Bed bugs have an oval shape with a flattened body when unfed and their body becomes swollen after they have fed. The young nymph that has just hatched from the egg is less than 1/10 inch long and nearly  olorless, but it becomes red after taking a blood meal. There are five nymphal stages, with each stage slightly larger than the preceding one. Nymphs typically are  yellowish brown to reddish brown.

How do bed bugs move about?
Bed bugs cannot fly, but they can walk very fast. They are able to cling tightly to surfaces, and they can fit into very small cracks and crevices where they often hide
during the day.

Where are bed bugs found?
Bed bugs can be found in places that are frequented or occupied by humans. Bed bugs are most commonly found in dwellings with a high rate of occupant turnover, such as hotels, motels, dormitories, apartment complexes, movie theaters, and the like. Bed bugs also can infest private dwellings. Bed bug can infest airplanes, ships, trains, and buses too.

Where do bed bugs hide?
Bed bugs will hide in the mattresses and box springs, bed frames, dressers, upholstered furniture and other furniture, cracks and crevices, electrical outlets, carpet tack strips, baseboards, window and door casings, drapery pleats, wall hangings, ceiling moldings, seams in wallpaper, etc. Bed bugs prefer to contact fabric, wood, and paper surfaces—all of which are common in human dwellings.

What are the tell-tale signs of bed bugs?
The most obvious signs of bed bugs are small black spots (feces) deposited in and near bed bug hiding places. The bed bug’s skin, egg shells, and live bed bugs also may be found. Another sign is blood stains, which typically occur when a bed bug is squashed. Itchy red welts may be the result of bed bug bites, but other insects can produce similar reactions. It is important to confirm whether the bites were caused by bed bugs by conducting a bed bug inspection.

When do bed bugs feed?
Bed bugs typically bite at night. However, they can also feed during the daytime.

What do bed bug bites look like?
The reaction to bed bug bites varies from person to person. Humans often exhibit a range of reactions to the bed bugs injected saliva. Some people exhibit no reaction while others experience a raised itchy red welt at the site of the bite. Reactions often appear as two or more bites in a row. They often occur on exposed areas of the body, such as the face, neck, arms, and shoulders. Bed bug bites may resemble reactions caused by other insects.

How do I treat bites?
Consult your healthcare provider. Anti-itching medications applied to the skin may be helpful.

Bed Bug Myths

Bed bugs are only a problem in low-income neighborhoods.
FALSE! Anyone can have a bed bug infestation. It is a common misconception that only dirty or low-income homes carry bed bugs. Since bed bugs prefer human blood they will feed on anyone regardless of their cleanliness or socioeconomic status.

Bed bugs carry disease.
FALSE! Bed bugs do not transmit disease; however, secondary infections can occur from scratching bed bug bites.

Any insecticide will kill bed bugs.
FALSE! Pesticides and other treatments are effective against pest, but are not necessarily effective against bed buts. For example, boric acid kills cockroaches because they eat the poison. Bed bugs only feed on blood so boric acid is ineffective. Some pesticides will kill bed bugs that are out in the open and if they are sprayed directly. However the majority of bed bugs in an infested building are hiding and it is unlikely they will be killed by these contact pesticides.

Household bug bombs that are meant for flying insects will kill bed bugs.
FALSE! Bug bombs will NOT kill the majority of bed bugs in an infested room. These insecticides typically cause bed bugs to scatter, so that they can avoid the irritating effect of the spray. The scattering effect from bug bombs makes the bed bug infestation much worse!

Top 10 Things to Clean After the Flu (or other illnesses)

Bedding, blankets, and other “sick” clothes.
You tend to sweat a lot more when you are sick, so strip down your bedding, gather up any throw blankets from the sofa, and add in pajamas and any other “sick” clothes.  Be sure to check for and treat any stains prior to washing {the 3% hydrogen peroxide works great for this but again, just check for colorfastness}. Run everything on the hottest temperature that the material allows, but be sure not to overload your washing machine.  This, unfortunately, may take several loads!  Pillows can also be washed in the washing machine – just be sure to follow care instructions on the pillow and place two pillows in the load (on their own) to balance out the load.

Your Mattress
If there are any fluids that have made their way through the bedding and onto the mattress, be sure to give it a good clean.  You can find more information on removing mattress stains and how to deep clean it HERE.  Even if it hasn’t been hit, it can do with a good airing out, so leave those sheets off all day if you can, and open the windows {if possible} and all of the blinds in the room to allow some fresh air and sunlight to hit it.  You can give it a light misting with the water/essential oil mix but ensure that you are not saturating the mattress and allow it to dry completely before putting the bedding back on.

The Bathroom
If you have multiple bathrooms, try to confine the sick parties in your house to one bathroom only.  This will help to prevent the spread of the illness as well as make your clean up much quicker and easier.  The bathroom will need a good cleaning and disinfecting after illness – especially the sink, faucets, toilet, and toilet handle.  I love using the steamer in the bathroom as it really cuts down on time and gets into all of those little cracks and crannies that are hard to reach (especially around the toilet and faucets).   I also know that I am getting a good disinfecting without having to go back to the chemical cleaners.   Around the toilet and sink, I will often spray some hydrogen peroxide/water mixture prior to steaming and let it sit for a few minutes.  You can read more about how to deep clean the bathroom HERE.

Your Toothbrush
If you have a cheap, disposable toothbrush that you have used for a while, you may just want to throw it away and get a new one.  For newer or more expensive toothbrushes, add some hydrogen peroxide to a cup (enough to completely submerge the bristles) and allow to soak for 30 minutes.  Rinse thoroughly with water when you are done.

Towels
Try to change towels daily during an illness and make sure that everyone has their own set.  You may want to try temporarily using paper towels instead of hand towels to make things a little easier and remember to encourage everyone to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly.  Once the illness is over, gather up all towels and wash at the highest possible temperature.  You can add some vinegar to the laundry load if you have some smelly towels or add some to your fabric softener dispenser for fluffier towels.

Stuffed Animals and Toys
Stuffed animals can be tossed into the washing machine with the other bedding to give it a thorough cleaning or you can give them a good steaming if they are too delicate to run through the washing machine.  For hard surfaced toys, use the small scrub brush attachment on the steamer to give them a little scrub and steam, and then wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.  Alternatively, you can place them in the top rack of the dishwasher {place small items in a mesh laundry bag} and run them through a cycle.

Hard Frequently Touched Surfaces
Germs survive the longest on hard, non-porous surfaces so try to wipe these down frequently during an illness with a disinfectant or give them a steam and a wipe with a microfiber cloth.  These can include light switches, door knobs, railings, or any other surface that you frequently touch.  If you have a steam cleaner, just blast the areas with the steam and wipe with a microfiber cloth.  I also like to add some essential oils to the water in the steam cleaner to get a nice scent and for some extra cleaning power.  If you don’t have a steamer, disinfecting wipes are probably the best bet because it can be hard to get a spray to sit on the surface long enough for disinfecting.

Electronic Devices
Wipe down all electronic devices that have been used such as phones, cell phones, computers, tablets, keyboards, and T.V. remotes using a disinfectant wipe, cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol, or a slightly damp microfiber cloth using hydrogen peroxide.  Allow to air dry.

Waste Baskets
Your garbage cans have probably held a wide variety of nasty things during an illness so don’t forget to give them a good clean once you have emptied them.  You can either give it a good steam or spray with a disinfectant (leaving it for at least a few minutes) before scrubbing.  It is obviously helpful if you can remember to line them with a plastic bag to help contain any germs prior to anything being put in there.

The Kitchen
Try as much as possible to keep sick kiddos out of the kitchen.  This is the one time that I am happy to get the kids all of their food, snacks, drinks, and whatever else they desire!   While everyone is sick, wipe down the refrigerator door handle and any other frequently used cabinet/drawer handles daily with a disinfecting wipe or rubbing alcohol pad.  Once everyone is feeling better, steam the countertops, fridge, and sink.  Spray the cupboard handles and drawer pulls with hydrogen peroxide and, after letting it sit for a few minutes, wipe it down with water and a microfiber cloth and give the cupboards a quick wipe if needed.  

 

While the list may sound long, it really doesn’t take too long to run through – other than waiting on all of the laundry!!  Remember that if you are able to confine those that are sick to just a few spaces in the home (usually the bedroom, a bathroom, and the sofa), it will be a lot less to clean!

• Number one most important: Get a flu shot!  Insurance will cover this, and you don’t even have to make a doctor’s appointment as you can just walk in most pharmacies get the shot, have your insurance charged, and be done with a time consuming appointment!
• Number two most important: FREQUENT hand washing with WARM water and soap….is WARM water available for your students to wash their hands?
• Do students have access to unwrapped treats that they get out of a common bowl (which is technically again wellness guidelines)…that is a breeding ground for germs!
• Frequently wipe down technology devices if multiple students are using them.
• How often are door handles, common areas, equipment and supplies sanitized?  Another great breeding ground for germs!
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• If you are sick with flu symptoms, it is recommended that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.
• Get plenty of sleep every night, 7-9 hours every night.
• Eat well balanced meals including all food groups.
• Vitamin C may help protect your immune system which fights off illness. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of Vitamin C. Strawberries, citrus fruits, bell peppers, pineapple, kiwi, broccoli and cauliflower are some of the best sources of Vitamin C

Information on Flu Symptoms and Diagnosis from the CDC HERE

View the Flu Vaccine Information for Parents HERE

Link to the CDC Lice Information - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

Download the Meningitis Information for Parents Info HERE

Download the Administration of Prescription Medication Request form HERE

Download the Over The Counter Short-term Medication Request Form Here

Preparing Your Child for Visits to the Doctor

When they know they’re “going to the doctor,” many kids worry a bit about the visit. Whether they’re going to see their primary care doctor or a specialist for a routine exam, illness, or special problem, kids are likely to have fears, and some may even feel guilty.

Some fears and guilty feelings surface easily, so that kids can talk about them. Others are kept secret and remain unspoken. Here’s how to help your child express these fears and overcome them.

Things that often top kids’ list of concerns about going to the doctor include:

• Kids often fear that their parents may leave them in the exam room and wait in another room. The fear of separation from the parent during mysterious examinations is most common in kids under 7 years old but, can be frightening to older kids through ages 12 or 13.
• Kids may worry that a part of the exam or a medical procedure will hurt. They especially fear they may need an injection, particularly kids 6 through 12.
• The doctor. Some kids’ concerns may be about the doctor’s manner. A kid may misinterpret qualities such as speed, efficiency, or a detached attitude and view them as sternness, dislike, or rejection.
• The unknown. Kids sometimes worry that a medical problem is much worse than their parents are telling them. Some who have problems suspect they may need surgery or hospitalization; some who are ill worry that they may die.

Explain the Purpose of the Visit

• If the upcoming appointment is for a regular health checkup, explain that it’s a “well-child visit. The doctor will check on how you’re growing and developing. The doctor will ask questions and examine you to make sure that your body is healthy. And, you’ll get a chance to ask any questions you want about your body and your health.” Also, stress that all healthy kids go to the doctor for such visits.
• If the visit is to diagnose and treat an illness or other condition, explain – in very non-scary language – that the doctor “needs to examine you to find out how to fix this and help you get better.”
• It’s wise to prepare kids by giving them prior notice of a visit so it’s not a surprise. When explaining the purpose of the visit, talk about the doctor in a positive way to help promote the relationship between your child and the doctor.

Address Any Guilty Feelings

• A child who is going to the doctor because of an illness or other condition might have unspoken feelings of guilt about it. Discuss the illness or condition in neutral language and reassure your child: “This isn’t caused by anything you did or forgot to do. Illnesses like this happen to many kids. Aren’t we lucky to have doctors who can find the causes and who know how to help us get well?”
• If you, your spouse, other relatives, or friends had (or have) the same condition, share this information. Knowing that others have been through the same thing can help ease a child’s guilt and fear.
• If your child needs a doctor’s attention because of a condition that resulted in ridicule or rejection by other kids (or even by adults), you’ll need to double your efforts to relieve shame and blame. Head lice, embarrassing scratching caused by pinworm, and involuntary daytime wetting or bedwetting are examples of conditions that are misunderstood by others.
• Even if you’ve been very supportive, reassure your child again, before the visit to the doctor, that the condition is not his or her fault and that many kids have had it.

 

Tell Kids What to Expect during a Routine Exam: Children learn best during play, and this may be a time when they feel most comfortable asking any questions regarding fears they may have. You can use a doll or teddy bear to show a young child how the nurse will measure height and weight or demonstrate parts of a routine exam. Many children’s books are available to help illustrate the doctor visit. It also helps to use role-playing to show how the doctor might:

• Use a blood pressure cuff to “hug the arm”
• Look in the mouth (and will need to hold the tongue down with a special stick for just a few seconds to see the throat)
• Look at the eyes and into the ears
• Listen to the chest and back with a stethoscope
• Tap or press on the tummy to listen or to feel what’s inside
• Tap on the knees
• Look at the feet

It’s important for parents to let their kids know that what they’ve taught them about the privacy of their bodies is still true, but that doctors, nurses, and parents must sometimes examine all parts of the body. Emphasize though, that these people are the only exceptions. And, reassure your child that you will be in the exam room with them.

Tell Kids What to Expect During Other Exams

• If your child is going to the doctor because of an illness or medical condition or is going to visit a specialist, you might not even know what to expect during the exam.
• When you’re calling to make the appointment, you can ask to speak to the doctor or a nurse to find out, in a general way, what will take place during the office visit and exam. Then you can explain some of the procedures and their purpose in gentle language, appropriate to your child’s age level. You child will feel more secure understanding what’s going to take place and why it’s necessary.
• Be honest, but not brutally honest. Let your child know if a procedure is going to be somewhat embarrassing, uncomfortable, or even painful, but don’t go into alarming detail.
• Reassure your child that you’ll be with them and that the procedure is truly necessary to fix – or find out how to fix – the problem. Kids can cope with discomfort or pain more easily if they’re forewarned, and they’ll learn to trust you if you’re honest with them. If you don’t know much about the illness or condition, admit that but reassure your child that you’ll both be able to ask the doctor questions about it. Write down your child’s questions.
• If a blood sample will be taken during or after the examination, be careful how you explain this. Some young kids worry that “taking blood” means that all their blood will be taken. Let your child know that the body contains a great deal of blood and that only a very little bit of it (usually no more than 1 or 2 teaspoons {about 10 milliliters}) will be taken for testing.
• Again, make certain that your child understands that the visit, with its embarrassing or uncomfortable procedures is not a punishment for any misbehavior or disobedience.

Is your Child too Sick for School?

It is often difficult to decide if your child is sick enough to stay home from school.  With minor symptoms, you often cannot tell whether he or she is going to get better or worse.

The main reasons for keeping your child home are:

• He or she is too sick to be comfortable at school
• He or she might spread a contagious disease to other students

As a general rule, you child should stay home if he or she has:

• Fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit
• Vomited more than once
• Has repeated Diarrhea
• Frequent Cough
• Persistent Pain (ear, stomach, etc.)
• Widespread Rash (except poison ivy or heat rash which are not contagious)

Most of these problems need to be discussed with your child’s health care provider to determine if an office visit is needed.

If you child has frequent complaints of pain that cause school absence, you should consider that your child is intentionally avoiding school.  Bring this to the attention of the child’s doctor before a great deal of school has been missed

Children who do not have a fever and have only a mild cough, runny nose or other cold symptoms can be sent to school without any harm to themselves or others.  The following guidelines may help your decision process:

             A runny nose is the way many children respond to pollen, dust or a cold virus.  Minor cold or allergy symptoms should not be a reason to miss school. Many healthy children have as many as 6-12 colds per year, especially in early school years. If it isn’t a cold, it’s allergies and allergies are not contagious.

            Coughing, especially if it is persistent during the day, can indicate of worsening of a cold or allergy symptoms. It may be a sign of a secondary infection. (ex. Sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis) which may require medical treatment.  If you child’s cough is worse than you might expect with a cold or allergies, consult your child’s doctor. Do so immediately if the child is not acting normal, have a fever, or has difficulty breathing.

            Diarrhea and Vomiting make children very uncomfortable. A single episode of vomiting without any other symptoms may not be reason enough for the child to miss school. Please be sure the school can reach you if symptoms occur again during the day.   With repeated episodes of watery diarrhea, your child should stay home from school. It could be embarrassing and uncomfortable for your child to have another episode while in school. If diarrhea and vomiting are accompanied by fever, rash, or general weakness, consult your child’s doctor and keep the child out of school until the illness passes.

MUST HAVE NO VOMITING AND DIARRHEA FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE RETURNING TO SCHOOL IF SENT HOME BY SCHOOL NURSE!

            Middle Ear Infections can cause great discomfort and often fever but are not contagious to others. Your child should see his or her doctor for diagnosis and treatment and should stay home if accompanied with fever.

            FEVER (generally considered to be higher than 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit) is an important symptom – especially when it occurs along with a sore throat, earache, listlessness, nausea, or a rash.  Your child could have a contagious illness, which could be passed to classmates and teachers.  While you can treat the fever, and usually make the child feel better temporarily, the cause of the fever (and the risk of passing it to others) is still there.  Most pediatricians advise parents to keep children home during the course of a fever and for an additional 24 hours that child is fever free without the use of fever reducing medication. NEVER GIVE ASPIRIN OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING ASPIRIN TO CHILDREN UNDER 19.

            Conjunctivitis (or pink eye) is very uncomfortable. It can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or allergy.  The first two are highly contagious. The eye will be red, and a cloudy or yellow discharge is usually present. The eye may be sensitive to light and the eye may burn. Consult with your child’s doctor to see if antibiotic eye drops are needed. Again, your child should stay home until symptoms subside and he or she has been on antibiotic drops at least 24 hours or until the doctor recommends your child return to school.

            Flu is a contagious virus that usually occurs in winter months. Symptoms include body aches, high fever, chills, congestion, sore throat, and in some children vomiting. Your child should stay home until these symptoms improve usually five to seven days. Consult your child’s doctor for treatment and suggestions to make your child more comfortable.

            Head Lice (Pediculosis) have not been shown to spread disease. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home has nothing to do with getting head lice. Check your child’s hair periodically for lice. Treat head lice with either an over-the-counter product or prescription product.  Please notify your school if your child has head lice.  Nits may persist, but successful treatment should kill crawling lice.  Please bring proof of treatment such as a box top or bottle from the special lice shampoo when your child returns to school.  The parent or responsible adult MUST bring the child to school to be checked by a school official.  The child must return home with the parent or responsible adult if he or she still has live lice or nits less than ¼ of an inch from the scalp.  Contact your school nurse for questions about head lice.

            Additional Information

• Your child should be appropriately dressed for the weather and the season
• Handwashing is the single most important thing you can do and teach your child to do to prevent the spread of disease
• The above illnesses can be spread easily both in school and in the family
• Whenever in doubt about sending your child to school, consult your child’s physician. A phone consultation may be all that is necessary, or your child may need to be seen by the doctor.
• Make sure your child’s school can reach you during the day or there is a back-up phone number on file for another adult who can pick your child up in the event of illness.

 

This is general healthcare information and should not be used as a substitute or in place of contacting your child’s healthcare provider.