Techs can help parents with back-to-school issues

With children now back at school, pharmacy technicians can help parents (and pharmacists, by collecting information and referring) with some common health issues that may need to be addressed, including head lice, vaccinations and OTC products. Nit picking Those pesky head lice often make their appearance during the school year when children have more contact with one another. And while lice are not known to spread disease, they seldom go away if left untreated. They are also most common among younger children and the household members of infested children, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The nits are the eggs laid by the adult female head louse (twice a day!) at the base of the hair shaft, usually behind the ears or at the hairline at the base of the neck. They are very small—about the size of a knot in thread—and are hard to see. They often appear yellow or white, although live nits sometimes seem to have the same hair colour as that of the infested person. An adult head louse can live about 30 days on a person’s head, feeding on blood and continuing to multiply and spread. Head-to-head contact with an already infested person is the most common way to get head lice, although rarely they can be spread by sharing clothing or belongings. Despite some common misconceptions, personal hygiene in the home or school is not associated with the presence of head lice. Symptoms of head lice may include: Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair. Itching, caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of the head louse. Irritability and difficulty sleeping; head lice are most active in the dark. Sores on the head caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes become infected with bacteria found on the person’s skin. If a parent comes into the pharmacy suspecting their child has head lice, Lucy Wang, pharmacist at Cliffway Pharmacy in Mississauga, Ont., suggests pharmacy technicians ask them: Is there presence of live lice and/or nits? Does anyone else in the household have symptoms? As pharmacists in many provinces are now authorized to prescribe for head lice, Wang says pharmacy technicians could ask if the child or infected family member has any allergies, and if they have had any previous failed treatments or adverse effects from lice treatments. This information can be provided to the pharmacist when referring the patient for counselling/treatment. Catching up on vaccines During the pandemic, many children fell behind on routine vaccinations. According to a joint poll by 19 to Zero and Neighbourhood Pharmacies in 2021, up to 35 per cent of children may have missed a critical routine vaccination. Wang recommends a flu shot as well as a Meningitis B vaccine. Meningitis B is an uncommon but serious disease that is caused by a bacterial infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Currently, no provinces or territories cover the cost of Men-B vaccine for all children, but some provide it for children at high risk of getting meningococcal disease, says the Canadian Pediatric Society. “The technician can help by asking whether the child has received the vaccine and assess the willingness of the parent to vaccinate, taking down any questions or concerns and relaying them to the pharmacist to address,” says Wang. Stocking up on OTCs The fall is also a good time to stock up on OTC medications, such as fever, cough and cold medications, notes Wang, as well as masks, rapid test kits, and hand sanitizer. Pharmacy technicians can suggest parents have these products on hand. And with COVID-19 still circulating, and cold and flu season beginning, it is an ideal time to address good hand-hygiene habits for children, at school and elsewhere.

Techs can help parents with back-to-school issues

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