Bug catchers - things kids catch

Head lice are the most common insect infestation of humans. They are tiny blood-sucking parasites that live on the human scalp and hair, feeding every 4-6 hours by piercing the skin and causing itching and irritation.

They do not hop, jump or fly and are only spread through direct head to head contact with infested people. They do not live on pets. Head lice cannot live off the human host for more than 48 hours. Breaking the life cycle of the head lice is the key to eradication.

You have to look for head lice and they are difficult to see. If head lice are suspected, use a magnifying glass in strong light or comb dry hair with a fine lice comb and hair conditioner. Wipe the combings on a paper towel and look for lice or eggs (which are called nits).

If lice or nits are found, the child’s hair must be treated with a special shampoo or lotion available from pharmacies. There is no treatment available that kills both nits and lice, so you need to repeat the treatment in seven days to kill newly hatched lice. After the second course treatment, check for lice again using the wet comb technique.

Resources

Head Lice Help

Worms

Worms are parasites that live in the body. The threadworm (or pinworm) is the most common worm in Australia and adults as well as children can be infected. These tiny worms are about 5-15mm long and look like pieces of white cotton.

Dogs and cats do not get threadworms, so pets cannot give threadworms to children. Pets are responsible for other worms so it’s important to ‘worm’ animals regularly for the sake of their own health and your family’s health.

Resources

Combantrin

Child and Youth Health

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is a swelling of the tissue that lines the eyelids and eyeball (conjunctiva). It often feels like there is something in your eye. The eye may be sore or itchy and the eyelids may stick together with yellow pus.

Conjunctivitis is extremely contagious and is caught through contact with either droplets from the eyes, nose or throat of an infected person or contaminated fingers or objects. It may also be caused by viral or bacterial infections or allergens.

It is always important to see a doctor if your child has conjunctivitis. Treatment may include bathing the eye in a sterile saline solution, antibiotics eye drops or ointment. Infections usually respond to treatment within 48 hours and it is important to keep children home from school or child care as long as there is discharge from the eye.

Resources 

My Doctor 

Allergy Org

Impetigo

Impetigo, often called school sores, is a highly contagious skin infection that is easily passed on to family and friends and spreads to other parts of the body. The infection thrives in warm, humid weather and crowded conditions, and as such very commonly affects school-aged children.

Impetigo is caused by two strains of bacteria that make their way into broken skin through a scratched insect bit, cold sore, eczema, boil, graze, scrape or cut.

There are two types of impetigo:

The blistering type of impetigo develops on normal skin. The blister grows quickly and then bursts, leaving a slightly moist or glazed are of skin with a brown crust at the edge. It is neither painful nor itchy.

Crusted impetigo starts as a small, reddish, weeping sore. It is soon covered by a thick, soft, yellow crust with a moist red area underneath. This form may spread less rapidly, and the lesions are small than the fully developed spots of blistering impetigo. Children tend to scratch the sores, but they are not usually painful.

Impetigo can also occur in association with other skin conditions, particularly itchy ones such as eczema, insect bits, scabies and head lice.

See your doctor who will most likely prescribe oral antibiotics or may give you an antibiotic ointment to apply to the sores. Care includes covering weeping sores, washing hands before and after applying dressings, sealing used dressing in plastic before disposal and bathing daily.

Keep your child away from other children until the blisters have dried out. Always keep the infected child well away from young babies. Impetigo is a serious condition for newborns because the child's reduced immunity can't keep the infection in check. Without prompt treatment, a severe case of impetigo may threaten the baby's life.

Resources

Better Health (search for impetigo)

The Children's hospital at Westmead

‘Slapped Cheek’ Disease

Slapped cheek disease is caused by a virus called parvovirus. It’s spread by droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The name comes from the typical rash which starts on the cheeks and looks bright red as though slapped.

Children might also have a mild fever, runny nose and aches and pains. The rash lasts about a week and may appear on arms, legs or torso.

It is always advisable to see a doctor if slapped cheek is suspected.

Resources 

Better Health (search for slapped face disease)

SA Government Health 

Hand, Foot and Mouth

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common viral infection in young children, but is not serious. It’s easy to catch via person to person contact and has nothing to do with foot and mouth disease in animals.

It is characterised by fever and tiny blisters in the mouth and on the hands, fingers and feet. It affects all age groups, but commonly infants and children under 10 years of age. Outbreaks frequently occur in childcare centres and schools. As long as the blisters contain fluid your child is infectious. Stay away from other children until the blisters have dried.

The virus can remain in a child’s stool for many weeks so it’s very important to wash hands properly after using the toilet, before eating and after contact with saliva, sputum, faeces or blisters. Wash soiled clothing thoroughly and wash saliva covered toys.

Because it’s viral, treatment usually consists of paracetamol, fluids, mouthwashes and soft foods or ice blocks if swallowing is painful. See your doctor if your child is refusing fluids as this could lead to dehydration. If infection occurs during pregnancy, you must consult your doctor.

Resources

Child and Youth Health   

NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service 

References

The Complete Parenting Guide – Caring for Your Child from Toddler to Teenager, By The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Published by Focus Books.

Available at all good bookstores or online at The Children's Hospital at Westmead.  

Parent’s Survival Guide - School Bugs and Other Nasties

A booklet by Guardian Pharmacy
 

The information provided in this article is intended as a guide only. Always consult your doctor if you or your child is suffering any medical complaint. Any websites referred to by Australian Family contain information moderated by government and medical institutions or organisations.
 

This article was first published in Australian Family Magazine, May 2005. Updated July 2009.