Student care

Head lice are 2-3mm long, flat and translucent wingless parasites that live in the hair. They move with the help of their limbs, they do not jump or fly. They use blood for nutrition, which they suck from the scalp. Head lice reproduce by laying eggs at the base of the hair, which are about 1mm in size, like gnats. They can most often be found behind the ears and on the neck, but sometimes even on the eyebrows and eyelashes. The eggs hatch after about 5-9 days and the hatched louse develops into an adult in 2 weeks and lives for about a month. Lice are dependent on blood meals and when they are removed from the hair, they die within a couple of days. Head lice epidemics occur in Finland, for example, in schools and daycare centers.

How are lice transmitted and what are the symptoms of a lice infestation?

Head lice are spread by direct contact from person to person and through brushes, combs and headgear. The most common symptoms are itching and a rash. Head lice bite the scalp, which causes itching. Scratching the scalp can lead to a bacterial infection (impetigo). Head lice do not spread diseases.

How is a head lice infestation diagnosed?

Head lice can be seen with the naked eye. If you suspect an infestation, you should examine your hair in good lighting and comb it systematically with a lice comb available from a pharmacy. It is a good idea to wet your hair and treat it with conditioner before combing so that it is tangle-free when combing. Lice are most often found on the neck and behind the ears. Seeing eggs near the scalp is also sufficient evidence of an infestation.

How is the infection treated?

After detecting head lice, treatment must be started immediately, as they multiply rapidly. Head lice treatment involves using over-the-counter lice shampoos or solutions that kill lice, which are available from pharmacies without a prescription. These products are used according to the instructions on the packaging. The pharmacy staff will assist in choosing the product. If necessary, the treatment is repeated after 7-10 days. In addition to the treatment, the hair is combed with a dense lice comb. Combing is done systematically, one area at a time, from the very roots of the hair to the ends. The comb is dried on paper after each stroke so that lice that have been released with the comb do not travel back into the hair. The head is combed twice with each combing session and repeated every other day for at least two weeks.

All family members of an infected person should have their hair checked. Only those who are infected should be treated. However, people who sleep in the same bed as the infected person should be treated, even if the infection has not been noticed.

The infection must be reported to the daycare center or school and to the parents of friends. There is no need to be absent from daycare center or school as long as treatment has been started.

There is no need for excessive cleaning, as lice die outside the human host in 1-2 days. It is a good idea to wash textiles that have been in contact with hair (e.g. headgear, sheets, towels) at 60⁰C. Textiles or other equipment that cannot be washed should be discarded.
for a few days, during which time the lice die.

How can head lice be prevented?

It is a good idea to keep hats, headgear and scarves in the sleeve of your own coat. You should avoid using someone else's comb, brush, hair accessories, hair bands and headgear. It is also a good idea to avoid direct contact with your hair.

When should you see a doctor?

You should see a doctor if you have tried self-care diligently and it hasn't helped. Light, empty eggshells can remain in your hair for up to months, but this is not a sign of treatment failure.

The pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) is a white worm belonging to the nematode family, about a centimeter long, that lives as a parasite in the human large intestine. In Finland, the pinworm is the most common cause of worm infections. Pinworms are most common in children aged 3-10, but adults can also be infected. Pinworms cause small epidemics, for example in daycare centers and schools. Pinworm infections are not a sign of poor hygiene, care or cleaning.

How is pinworm transmitted and what are the symptoms of infection?

Infection occurs when tapeworm eggs are transferred, for example, from the hands to the mouth and swallowed. The eggs are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. Female worms migrate to the anal area at night to lay eggs. The eggs can spread between people through direct hand contact or also through, for example, doorknobs, toys or bedding. The eggs remain alive in the environment for several days.

It takes about 1-2 months from infection to the onset of symptoms. Pinworms cause itching in the anus, perineum and sometimes in girls also in the vulva. The itching occurs especially at night and can disturb sleep and sometimes cause bedwetting. Pinworm infections can also be asymptomatic,
especially in adults.

Roundworm is not dangerous and does not cause other diseases.

How is a pinworm infection diagnosed?

Infection is suspected based on the symptoms and it is sufficient to see moving worms on the skin or in the anal area to confirm the infection. A doctor's diagnosis is not required to confirm the infection. If you are unsure, you can contact a healthcare professional, e.g. your own health center or school nurse.

How is the infection treated?

For the treatment of tapeworms, there is a tablet form of pyrvin that is available as an over-the-counter product from pharmacies.
(Pyrvin), which is effective in a single dose. The treatment is always repeated after two weeks to break the possible cycle of infection. It is usually a good idea to treat the entire family, including asymptomatic members, at the same time.

The day after the medication, the sheets, towels and clothes are washed and the blankets, pillows and mattress are aired or vacuumed. Underwear is changed daily. The toilet and other areas are cleaned with a regular “weekly” cleaning. There is no need to be away from daycare or
from school, but it is a good idea to report the infection there.

How can roundworm infection be prevented?

Roundworms are prevented by good hand and toilet hygiene. Children are reminded of the importance of washing their hands after using the toilet and before eating. It may be a good idea to avoid finger foods.

It is a good idea to keep children's nails short so that no eggs get under them.

Sleeping in the same bedding as someone who is carrying ringworm should be avoided.

When should you see a doctor?

It is worth contacting a doctor if carefully implemented self-care does not help with the symptoms.

Scabies is an itchy rash caused by the 0,3-0,5mm long arachnid mite (Sarcoptes scabiei). The female mite lives in the skin for 1-2 months, during which time it lays eggs in a tunnel it digs in the stratum corneum of the skin. The female mite lives outside the skin for about 1-3 days. Scabies epidemics can occur, for example, in daycare centers and schools.

How is scabies transmitted?

Scabies is spread from person to person through contact. Usually, brief contact such as shaking hands is not enough, but requires repeated or very close contact, such as living in the same household or having sex. Scabies can also be spread from the clothes or bedding of someone with scabies, but this is less common.

What are the symptoms of scabies infection?

The first symptom of scabies is an itchy rash, which usually begins 3-6 weeks after infection (in case of re-infection, itching can start after a few days). Itching occurs especially in the evening/night. The areas where the scabies is scratched can become inflamed. The skin may show mite burrows, pimples or blisters.

How is scabies infection diagnosed?

Infection is usually suspected based on itching. At that time, the skin is searched for the passages of the female mite, which are most commonly found in the folds of the wrists, between the fingers, and in children also on the palms and soles of the feet. At the end of the passage, a water bell-shaped blister may be visible where the scabies mite lives, but to detect the scabies mite, auxiliary equipment (e.g. a microscope or magnifying glass) is usually required.

How is the infection treated?

To treat scabies, you can get a permethrin cream from a pharmacy without a prescription; a 30-gram tube is enough for a single treatment for an adult, and the dose for children is smaller according to age (instructions in the medicine's package insert). The cream is carefully applied to the entire body, including the scalp and ears, in the evening after washing. The face is only treated if there are symptoms. The cream is left on overnight for 8-12 hours, and in the morning the skin is washed thoroughly and clothes and sheets are changed. Everyone living in the same household should be treated at the same time, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not.

The treatment is repeated once after 7–10 days.

During treatment sessions, all clothing, sheets and other textiles used are washed at at least 60 degrees or stored in a plastic bag for a week or frozen (-20°C or colder) for 24 hours. The interior, furniture, mattress, blanket and pillows are vacuumed.

After treatment, itching may continue for 2-4 weeks and can be soothed with cortisone cream.

How can scabies be prevented?

A child's scabies should be reported to the daycare or school, where the child can only return after a one-time treatment has been given.

The spread of scabies can best be prevented by treating symptomatic individuals and their close contacts appropriately.

When should you see a doctor?

If you suspect you have a scabies infection, see a doctor.

All students have the right to student welfare and student care services.

Student care is primarily community-based and preventive.

Community-based student care promotes 
learning of pupils and students,
health and well-being,
interaction and inclusion, and
safety and accessibility of the learning environment.

Community-based student care is 
the task of everyone working at the school.

It also requires cooperation
between home and school.

All students have the right 
also for individualized study support.

This includes school and student healthcare.
as well as the services of a school psychologist and a curator. 

Individual student support also includes: 
multidisciplinary expert group,
which is assembled as needed to support the student.

Individual student support is voluntary,
and it is based on consent.

Students' opinions and wishes should be taken into account
in decisions concerning them. 

A guardian may not prohibit a student from using 
Individual student care services.

The school will provide more detailed information. 
individual student support services.

All pre school and basic education pupils as well as high school students have the right to pupil and student welfare services.

Pupil and student welfare is primarily preventive student welfare that supports the entire school community. In the school community this means an institutional culture that promotes pupils' and students' learning, health and well-being, interaction and inclusion as well as safety and accessibility of the learning environment. Preventive, communal student welfare is the task of everyone working at the school and it also includes collaborative activities and cooperation between the school and home.

Students are also entitled to individual student welfare. Individual student welfare services include pupil and student healthcare services as well as the services of psychologists and school social workers. Individual student welfare also includes a multidisciplinary expert team, which is assembled on a case-by-case basis to support the student.

Individual student welfare is always voluntary and requires consent. Also the multi-disciplinary expert team is assembled with the consent of the students and guardians.

Students' opinions and wishes must be taken into account in decisions involving them, bearing in mind students' age, level of development and other personal capabilities. The Guardian may not prohibit the student from using individual student welfare services.

The school provides more detailed information about individual student welfare services.

All students have the right to services for the welfare of students

Услуги по опечения участьия участические носы предмещение public and preventive character.

Public services for the well-being of students contribute to the education of schoolchildren and students, health and well-being, interaction and participation, as well as safety and accessibility of the learning environment.

Public services to ensure the well-being of students - the task of everyone who works in the school. This also requires cooperation between home and school.

All students also have the right to individual services to ensure the well-being of students. This support includes school and student healthcare services, as well as a school psychologist and curator.

Individual services for the well-being of students also include a multi-profile expert group that meets as needed to support the student.

Individual services for the well-being of students are voluntary and based on consent.

Students' opinions and wishes must be taken into account when making decisions regarding their decisions. Опекун не может запритить учащемуся to use individual services to ensure the well-being of students.

The school provides more detailed information about individual services to ensure the well-being of students.