Health and Medical
Belinda Schodde | School Nurse Image by Dulcie Pula Long
School sores (Impetigo) increase in cases
- Impetigo (school sores) is a highly contagious type of skin infection caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria.
- The infection is characterised by inflamed blisters that pop, weep and form crusts.
- Treatment options include antibiotic cream, ointment, antibiotic syrup or tablets.
- A child with impetigo should be kept home from school or day care until appropriate treatment has begun and the sores on exposed areas are covered with a waterproof dressing and where necessary a crepe bandage.
- Practice good personal hygiene.
for more information please visit:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/impetigo-school-sores
Conjunctivitis increase in cases
- Conjunctivitis is an infectious eye condition
- Symptoms last from two days to three weeks
- Children with conjunctivitis should be kept home from school
- You will remain infectious as long as you have an eye discharge.
for more information please visit:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/Conjunctivitis#bhc-content
Thunderstorm asthma season OCT - DEC
Grass pollen season brings a seasonal increase in asthma and hay fever. It also brings the chance of thunderstorm asthma. When a large number of people develop asthma symptoms over a short period of time, caused by high amounts of grass pollen and a certain type of thunderstorm, it is known as epidemic thunderstorm asthma.
Melbourne experienced the world’s largest epidemic thunderstorm asthma event on 21 November 2016, with thousands of people developing breathing difficulties in a very short period of time.
Epidemic thunderstorm asthma events are thought to be triggered by a unique combination of high grass pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm. Grass pollen grains get swept up in the wind and carried for long distances; some can burst open and release tiny particles that are concentrated in the wind gusts that come just before a thunderstorm. These particles are small enough to be breathed deep into the lungs and can rapidly trigger asthma symptoms, making it difficult to breathe. This can become very severe, very quickly and many people may require medical help at the same time.
Thunderstorm asthma can affect those with asthma or hay fever – especially people who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever. That’s why it’s important for people with asthma or hay fever to know about thunderstorm asthma and what they can do to help protect themselves during grass pollen season.
When do epidemic thunderstorm asthma events take place?
Epidemic thunderstorm asthma events are uncommon and don’t occur every year. In south-east Australia they can happen during grass pollen season from October through December.
Who is most at risk of thunderstorm asthma?
Those at increased risk of thunderstorm asthma include:
- people with asthma
- people with undiagnosed asthma (i.e. people who have asthma symptoms but have not yet been diagnosed with asthma)
- people who have had asthma in the past
- people with hay fever who may or may not have asthma.
It’s important to remember:
- People with hay fever in south-east Australia are likely to be allergic to grass pollen, and are therefore at increased risk of thunderstorm asthma.
- Having both asthma and hay fever or poor control of asthma increases the risk further.
- Thunderstorm asthma can affect people living in metropolitan, regional or rural areas, even if they don't have a history of asthma.
It is important to understand that there are a large range of triggers that can set off a person’s asthma symptoms. Symptoms and treatment of epidemic thunderstorm asthma are essentially the same as asthma triggered by other causes.
For more information about thunderstorm asthma please visit the better health channel