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Get Your Flu Shot! *Influenza, another reason to wash hands

September 24, 2011 in Creative Adventures, News - Updates, Uncategorized

 

 

We did it again and hope you do too…

Influenza (Flu)-another reason to wash your hands and to cough or sneeze in your shoulder.flu shot @ the pharmacy_edited-1The-Singing-Nurse-Shadow.JPG

Yours truly, The Singing Nurse took the plunge and is here to remind you to get your flu shot if you are able. Remember it’s not about us, even though getting the flu shot will benefit us as well.

Getting our flu shot is an act of kindness towards those we love and especially to the medically fragile people we rub shoulders with everyday.

The flu shot this year includes H1N1 and 2 other influenza viruses. Check out the CDC website, they have gobs of great info on how they choose the viruses and all the scientific stuff, if you are into to that sort of thing. The resources at the CDC would provide great info for a school science project for older children in school or homeschoolers.

Children of course have the highest rate of infection because they are together in close proximity.

Symptoms may include:

*fever   *sore throat   *chills   *fatigue   *cough   *headache   *muscle aches

Infants, the elderly, pregnant women and people with health conditions may become very ill.

The flu can also cause: high fever, pneumonia and diarrhea and seizures in children.

Tens of thousands die, and more are hospitalized from the flu each year.

The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that all people 6 months and older receive the flu shot.

Flu season is usually between Oct and May.

Check with your doctor before getting a flu shot to make sure you and the children in your life are able.

Adverse reaction to the shot can be from very mild discomfort to a very rare life threatening reaction.

Call your doctor with any question and 911 for anything that appears life threatening. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek help. When in doubt check it out.

This post has been a summary from the info found @ the CDC and AAP websites.

Check out their great handouts for parents.

Songs to Listen/Purchase Rubba Dub Dub **Don’t Spread Your Germs Around

Children’s hand washing lesson.

*color sheet*games*crafts*lesson*animation

Posts you may like:Wash Your Hands! H1N1 Handwashing, good health habits Rhinovirus/cold The singing nurse and kids w bubbles_edited-1 Strep Throat

For Healthy Children and Families,

Ms. Dawn, The Singing Nurse

 

 

Strep Throat, another reason to wash hands. #3

September 17, 2010 in Children's Health Education, News - Updates, Uncategorized

The singing nurse and kids w bubbles_edited-1Strep Throat, another reason to wash hands. #3

I have gathered helpful info regarding streptococcus pyogenes the bacteria responsible for Strep Throat. I have organized these nuggets in simple form from the trustworthy websites of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), WebMD and KidsHealth. Strep Throat is another reason for frequent hand washing. Hand washing is the most important action we can take to prevent the spread of germs. Please share this information with your families, friends, parents and children.

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Strep throat is most common in school-age children and where large groups gather together.

Strep likes to live in the throat and nose, that is why sneezing and coughing spreads strep.

Strep is also spread through droplets, so breathing, talking and singing can spread Strep. (I had to add this, so please don’t attend your next choral practice if you have strep throat)

Some people can carry Strep to you but not seem ill.

Objects and direct contact like handshakes can also carry the Strep bacteria.

All of the above are a good reasons not to touch your nose, eyes or mouth with your hands after gathering with a bunch of people.

It takes 2 to 5 days for Strep symptoms to appear after you are exposed.

Symptoms:

Sudden sore throat pain, difficulty swallowing, fever, stomachache, white, red or yellow patches on the throat, swollen neck glands, red large tonsils, headache, and rash.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

Doctors may perform a rapid strep test which will confirm strep in about 5 mins. If you have all the likely symptoms but the rapid test comes up negative, they will do a throat culture which take a few days to receive the results.

Strep is treated with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, usually for 10 days.

Usually after 24 hours of antibiotics, you are no longer contagious.

Antibiotics help to shorten the amount of days that Strep is contagious to others besides curing the Strep.

If Strep is untreated you will be contagious for about 21 days.

Medically fragile people are the most susceptible to other health problems and untreated Strep may move to other parts of the body.

Complication of Strep:

Rarely: otitis media (ear infection), sinus infections,

Rarer: other throat and neck infections, abscesses, blood infections, even toxic shock syndrome.

Complications because of the immune system: rheumatic fever (which affects the heart), inflammation of the kidneys or complication of children with neurological disorders.

Prevention and Summary

Wash your hands

Use tissues instead of handkerchiefs

Don’t drink or eat from the same utensils of others.

Make sure you get enough rest, don’t get run down.

Moisten the air you breathe, dry nostrils are better targets for bacteria.

Change your toothbrush when you are ill and after you are ill.

Stay away for sick people, and if you are ill, stay away from healthy people and people with fragile health.

Take the whole prescription your doctor has ordered. If you only take part, it will cause the infection to come back stronger, one of the reasons we have antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Please: If you have any questions as to the safety and well being of anyone you care for, please call your doctor or call 911. It is always better to ask.

Have a great school year, stay healthy and active, be kind to your neighbor and don’t go to school, work or large gatherings when you are ill. And remember, when in doubt check it out, and… wash your hands.

For Healthy kids and families,

Ms. Dawn, The Singing Nurse

More reasons to wash your hands:                 Wash Your Hands! H1N1 Handwashing, good health habits Colds/Rhinovirus

Handwashing song: Rubba Dub Dub