Varicella (Chicken Pox) and Pediculosis (Head Lice)

Introduction

In this weeks staff meeting we will be looking at the communicable disease Varicella, most commonly known as Chicken Pox and Pediculosis (Head Lice). There have been four families within the school community who have recently reported that their child/ren have contracted Chicken Pox. Head Lice proves to be a continuing issue within the school community, especially at this time of the year.

What is Varicella (Chicken Pox) and what are the symptoms?

Chickenpox (varicella) is a highly contagious viral disease that mainly effects children
In the majority of cases, Chicken Pox gets better without any medical treatment
The main symptom is a characteristic blistering skin rash.
Treatment options aim to relieve symptoms, and include bed rest, calamine lotion and lukewarm baths.

What is Pediculosis (Head Lice) and what are the symptoms?

Head lice are small, wingless insects that live, breed and feed on the human scalp.
It is important to acknowledge that they do not carry or transmit disease.
A common symptom includes itching of the scalp - however, not all individuals with headlice will have this symptom
Head Lice lay eggs on the scalp. Head Lice cannot jump or fly - they can only crawl

Task

Today your task is to familarise yourself with the signs, symptoms and treatment of Chicken Pox through navigation of the listed websites.

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/chic…

http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/chicken-pox.html

http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public+Content/SA+Health+…

Now, Familarise yourself with the signs, symptoms and treatment of Chicken Pox through navigation of the listed websites.

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/head…

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/headlice/Pages/treatment.aspx

https://www.choice.com.au/babies-and-kids/health/conditions/articles/he…

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/prevent.html

Gather as much information as you can and share your findings with your collegues.

Process

In pairs, depedent on numbers, you will be allocated either Chicken Pox or Head Lice to design a fact sheet.

he fact sheet must include:

-The formal and informal name of the disease

-Common symptoms

-Treatment of these symptoms and minimisation of spread of disease

-How the disease is transferred form person to person

-For what period is the person deemed to be 'infectious" i.e. the period of time where the diease is able to be transferred to other people

Evaluation

Please bring your fact sheet to our next staff meeting to swap with a team who did the task that you did not do.

The fact sheets need to be avaliable in your classroom at all times to give to families upon request or if you believe their child may have Chicken Pox or Head Lice. It will also be useful in conversations with students.

Twp fact sheets (One Chicken Pox and One Head Lice) will be selected to be placed in the School News Letter.

Conclusion

By the end of this task all staff should be able to identify both Chicken Pox and Headlice and be able help families to learn ways in which to identify, treat and prevent the spread of Chicken Pox and head Lice. Hopefully, this will then decrease the prevalence of both within our school community.