Your child has started primary school – what can you expect in terms of healthcare during his or her eight years there?
School health services
The first service is the school health screening programme. These screenings, where hearing and vision are tested, are conducted by public health nurses and area medical officers (doctors) employed by the HSE. They can take place in senior infants, second class and sixth class.
A physical examination may take place if you, as the parent, requests it, or if it is considered necessary. Parents are always notified well in advance about when the doctor and nurse will visit and parents are entitled to be present during the examination.
The screenings are carried out on the school premises. If a problem is identified at these screenings, the child will be referred to the nearest hospital’s out-patient department for treatment. If any subsequent treatment is needed (whether as an out-patient or staying in hospital) this will be free of charge as a public patient.
Immunisation
The second service is the immunisation programme. There is a schedule of these that continues from pre-school days (see table one).
Vaccinations under the childhood immunisation programme are provided free of charge to all children. They are not compulsory but are strongly recommended by health authorities.
Teeth checks
The third service is the schools’ dental care service. Children up to the age of 16 years are eligible for state-funded public dental service, provided by salaried dental staff employed by the HSE. Legislation provides for:
Dentists come to schools to see children in second, fourth and sixth classes. Children are examined and given a grade depending on how quickly the child needs treatment. The child is then referred to a local HSE dental clinic to receive treatment, which could include extractions, fillings or fissure sealants.
Children are usually assessed for braces in sixth class and fissure sealants in second class. They will be referred to the HSE orthodontic clinic if they need braces. However, the Irish Dental Association states that there is currently a long waiting lists due to understaffing.
If your child is under 16 and requires emergency dental treatment, they can avail of this at any HSE dental clinic without an appointment. Getting there early in the morning is a good idea. If you have to go to a private dentist for orthodontic treatment for your child, remember that tax relief is available for this.
See www.dentalhealth.ie/children
Shoe sense
Your child’s feet can grow rapidly so you need to account for growth when buying shoes. A good fit is about a finger’s width of space from the end of the shoe to the tip of the big toe.
Also remember that shoes lose their shock absorption over time. Children’s feet need proper cushioning and arch support. When buying shoes, check to see that the toe box flexes easily and that the shoe doesn’t bend in the middle of the sole. Lace-up shoes are the most supportive, but a buckle or Velcro fastener is the next best alternative. A child’s shoe size should be checked every six months.
“Children can grow by a shoe size in one year, with particular growth spurts taking place between the ages of nine and 13.”
Source: Podiatry Ireland.
Head lice - beat the bugs
September and October are the peak months for head lice, so it’s important to be vigilant, particularly in the first couple of months of term. Head lice prefer clean hair, so there’s no shame in getting them – but there’s no excuse for keeping them either now that there are so many fast and safe remedies on the market. They include Lyclear, Headmaster, Prioderm and Dervac, but ask your pharmacist for suggestions.
45% of Irish families have been affected by head lice at some stage and, of these, 60% have had more than one infection, so you’re not alone if they hit your radar. A good suggestion for breaking the cycle of infection in a school is to have a designated bug night every week. That way, if some children have head lice, it will be discovered at the same time and everyone will be treated early so the problem won’t spread.
But how do you treat them?
“The most reliable means of detection is wet combing the hair with a nit comb,” says a pharmacist from the IPU. “Look for empty egg shells (nits). These are small, whitish ovals of equal size attached to the hair shaft.”
The IPU recommends that everyone in the house gets their hair checked if there is an issue.
Do let the school know if your child is affected so that outbreaks can be prevented. Tie up long hair in a ponytail to avoid contact with other hair that might be infected. Remember to never treat a child as a preventative measure, the IPU says, as it’s not effective. Also, try to keep calm so that the experience isn’t distressing for the child.
Note: Children who have asthma and allergies may not be able to use some of the products on the market. Ask your pharmacist for advice.
Does your child need medication in school?
If your child is on medication for diabetes or asthma, for instance, they may need to have medication administered during school hours.
If this is the case, talk to the child’s teacher. “There are guidelines for school management boards around this,” says a National Parents’ Council spokesperson.
“No teacher has to administer medication, it’s not part of their teaching role, but children have to go to school at the same time. It comes down to teachers being willing to do it. Parents should contact their child’s school to discuss their child’s needs.”
Sugary truth
Juice drinks can contain more sugar than you think – as much as five cubes in a small glass, according to safefood.
Many contain as much sugar as fizzy drinks. For example, in a 2013 study, a popular, flavoured fruit drink was found to contain 20g of sugar in a 200ml sachet, just a little less than a 200ml serving of Coca Cola (21.2g sugar), Pepsi (21.2g) and 7UP (22.4g)
“Many parents think that juice drinks that mention the term fruit are a healthier alternative for their children than fizzy drinks, but they are often really high in sugar,” says Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, director of human health and nutrition at safefood.
“A survey of parents found that 45% of children are drinking soft drinks once a day or more and 30% of children are getting cordials at mealtime.”
Offer water or milk instead, she advises.