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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1998)
PROGRAM NEWS & NOTES (continued) Head Lice Season Is Upon Us Again Cathy Rasmussen, RN Community Health Director Here are some suggestions the NPA offers for those who experience head lice treatment failure: As the new school year gets underway, - the problem o f pediculosis (head lice) often rears its ugly head! For m any families, an exposure to head lice can mean the beginning o f a frustrating and expensive battle with these ; , p e sts. H a v in g h e a d lic e can b e v e ry - stigmatizing to children and their families, and repeat infestations can turn into long school abséhcès. - The National Pediculosis Association is a national organization dedicated to the safe and effective treatment o f head lice, and has provided the information in this column. A dult lice are reddish-brow n and generally found on or near th e scalp. The eggs they lay, called nits, are oval-shaped and u su ally silvery-w hite. T he fem ale louse attaches these to the hair shaft with cement. Nits should mot be confused with hair debris. They are generally laid close to the Scalp, but can be found anywhere on the hair shaft. Chemical Treatments for Head Lice According to the NPA, when it comes to lice, some “cures” are worse than the problem. Lindane, in particular, can be very toxic and should be avoided. Although not as safe as manually removing lice and nits, Nix and other permethrin-based can be used safely with the following considerations: - Do not use shower caps and never leave the product on longer than the instructions recommend. - Do not use head lice treatments on infants. - Do not use lice sprays—they are unnecessary and toxic. - Do not treat family members who are not infested. - Do not use treatments to prevent head lice. Treatment Failures The NPAreceives about 50 calls per day from parents and health professionals reporting tre a tm e n t fa ilu re, and b e lie v e s th ere is sufficient evidence to believe that some lice are resistant to perm ethrin-based products such as Nix. Other contributing factors include the incomplete removal o f nits and failure to follow product treatment instructions. - I f you continue to find live lice after treatment, do NOT retreat with the same product in the hopes o f killing the lice . Remember, these products are pesticides. NÉ VER resort to dangerous remedies such as lindane (KwelT), kerosene, or pet shampoos. Remove lice manually. In addition to snipping or pulling out nits, also screen for and remove live lice. Having two people w ork siihultaneohslyon different sides o f the head is helpful. Lice shy away front the light and move quickly. They particularly like the nape o f the neck. Head lice need human blood to survive, so don’t spend hours scouring your house. Vacuum surface areas and save your energy for getting all those nits out! N E V E R U S E L IC E SPRAYS! - W hen screening for lice and nite, have a magnifying glass, a good light source, tweezers, safety scissors, and a nit- rem oval com b. F o r m ore information, contact the Siletz C om m unity H ealth Clinic or the Community Health Department The Many Benefits o f M other’s Milk Cathy Rasmussen, RN Community Health Director Human babies need human milk! Formula, which is usually made from cows milk, simply can’t provide babies with the many benefits o f mother’s milk. Cows milk is perfectly designed for baby cows. Here are just a few reasons why breastfeeding is clearly better: Benefits to Babies Babies w ho are fed m other’s m ilk receive antibodies which protect them from sicknesses including: © Ear infections © Diarrhea © Urinary tract infections © Respiratory infections © Other bacterial infections © Bacterial meningitis Research is also showing that breastfed babies receive m any long-lasting health benefits including: © Fewer allergies © Lower risk o f Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) © Fewer chronic digestive diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis © Lower risk o f diabetes © Lower risk o f childhood cancers like lym phoma © Better cheekbone development and jaw alignment, lessening the risk of speech problems and the later need for orthodon tics ©Enhanced cognitive (brain) development Benefits to M oms The slow return o f a regular menstrual cycle not only helps new moms replace their iron stores, but also delays return o f fertility after childbirth and can help in “child spacing”. (Note: Birth control should still be used, however, to protect against accidental pregnancy during breast-feeding). Other benefits to nursing moms include: * Less bleeding following delivery v Faster weight loss because milk production bums calories v Lower risk o f pre-menopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer * Lower risk o f osteoporosis after menopause Benefits to Families & Society m a d d i t i o n to s a v in g s o f u p to $1000.00 for a year o f formula, parents o f breastfed babies ¿ s o benefit financially though less m issed work for childhood illness and lower health care-related expenditures. Scientists have not yet been able to figure out all the nutrients found in m other’s milk and how they help babies, let alone find a w ay to duplicate them a n d ad d th em to formula! Breast milk is a unique combination o f fats, sugars, minerals, proteins, vitamins, and enzymes— all customized to promote infant brain and body growth. Breast milk is: © always fresh © perfectly clean © ju st the right temperature © instantly available © lowest cost, and the © m ost nutritious feeding system avail able! Help the babies in your com m unity to get the best possible start in life by providing your support to friends, daughters, sisters, wives, and partners who have m ade the decision to breastfeed. (From The American Academ y o f Pediatrics and La Leche League publications) -5 -
