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USD 377 Issues Health Warning To Parents

By Joel Hardy

02/24/2015

(KAIR)--USD 377 sent a letter home to parents on Monday warning them of a possible health risk to their children after a case of scabies was confirmed at the Elementary School.

The letter, written by district nurse Cheri Hawk, informs parents that scabies is caused by an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite. The most common symptoms can take as long as 4-6 weeks to start in someone who has never had scabies, and can include intense itching and a pimple like rash. Scabies can spread rapidly under crowded conditions where body and skin contact is frequent. However, contact has to be prolonged, so a quick handshake or hug will usually not spread scabies.

Scabies can be treated with a scabicide treatment prescribed by a doctor. An infected child may return to school the morning after their first treatment. Items used by the infected person such as sheets and towels can be decontaminated by machine washing in hot water and drying using the hot cycle.

The letter assures parents that the district is taking all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of scabies.

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