Wednesday, August 6, 2003
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Wednesday, August 6, 2003 |
Scoliosis screening: A middle school mystery revealed
Schools, Health Dept. collaborate in the interest of child wellness
Remember when you were in school and everyone had to line up "single file" and march down the hall to the nurse's office or gymnasium so that she could "check your posture?" Those days may be just a distant memory now, but how many of us really knew what this middle school "ritual" was really all about? As is the case with most mysteries, this one has a very logical explanation. The goal of this yearly ritual is to detect lateral curvature of the spine, or a condition called scoliosis. This spinal disorder frequently occurs in children between the ages of 10 and 15 years of age and may run in families. (This means that brothers and sisters of an affected child should also be checked for this condition.) Approximately 7 to 10 children in every 100 could develop scoliosis, and 1 to 3 of those children will require treatment of some kind. If this condition is detected early and appropriate treatment is received, progressive deformities can be prevented. Scoliosis occurs more frequently in girls than in boys, and in 80 percent of the cases the cause is unknown. In some children the curvature may not progress. But even minor cases still need to be monitored by a physician so that any changes can be readily detected. The screening process is a simple one. The child's back is observed in the standing, and forward bending positions. The more obvious signs of scoliosis are: One shoulder higher than the other. One hip higher than the other. One leg which seems shorter than the other (child walks with a limp or leaning to one side). Protrusion of one side of the upper back. Bones of the spine not in a straight line. The school screening process is by no means meant to be diagnostic. Please note that if parents prefers not to have their child evaluated, they can indicate this by signing the permission slip and returning it to the school. The permission slip clearly states: "If you do not want your child screened, please complete the information, and return it to school." There is no way for school personnel or Public Health staff to know that a parent does not wish to have their child screened unless a permission slip with a negative reply is returned to the school. This service can be refused by any parent, but must be offered to every sixth and eighth grade child in the school system according to state law. Children are first evaluated by trained school staff. If the staff member detects anything or their findings are unclear, the child is given a second evaluation by a public health nurse. If any curvature is suspected by the nurse, a letter is sent home addressed to the child's parent. This notification explains the findings and encourages parents to have the child evaluated further by their family physician. Scoliosis screening-related activities (beginning with sending home parental permission and information sheets with children) will begin in late August and early September. If you have any questions or concerns about Scoliosis or the screening process, please feel free to call the Fayette County Health Department at 770-461-1178, ext. 5416. Our staff would be happy to assist you. The Fayette County School System and the Fayette County Health Department hopes that this has clarified at least one middle school mystery. Have a safe and happy school year.
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