The General Directorate of Health clarifies this Friday, that cases of scabies in schools do not justify the closure of schools or compulsory quarantine of infected children, do not set national public health risk and be easily treated.
As for the reasons to be increasing the number of cases of scabies (mange) in schools in the Lisbon region, the general sub-director of Health, Graça Freitas, said he was unaware effectively is taking place an increase or whether it is a case of "Media epidemic," because he began to speak and to report it.
The truth, told Lusa, is that "there is often" cases of scabies - a contagious skin disease caused by a mite and giving intense itching - but are not reported.
However, the responsible safeguarded that even if you are checking an increase in cases compared to previous years, is not at a level that implies a "national epidemic".
"It is controllable with treatment and passes quickly. Does not constitute a national risk to public health. To increase, we consider an intervention [the level of DGS], but no longer, "he said.
For now, scabies in schools are managed at the level of health centers. The intervention is in charge of the ACES (clusters of health centers) and ARS (regional health authorities).
In schools where there are children with scabies, the solution is to treat them all, since it is a "simple and prompt treatment" disease.
"It is to be made a serious treatment," he said, adding that health guidelines that exist for schools does not include scabies as a disease it is necessary to place the child quarantine.
Graça Freitas said it was up to the doctor, at its discretion, recommend that sick children stay home for 24 hours after starting treatment, but schools can not prohibit access.
The specific regulatory decree on the "communicable diseases originating school eviction" states that "the scab is not in the list of diseases temporarily away from school attendance and other educational activities the students, teaching and non-teaching".
In total they have been diagnosed more than 30 confirmed cases of scabies.
Only in Cascais's record of 23 in Sintra and there have been six since October. To these are added three more in Loures, one in Saint Adrian de Varzim and three in Leiria, reported Friday by the Morning Post.
As for the reasons to be increasing the number of cases of scabies (mange) in schools in the Lisbon region, the general sub-director of Health, Graça Freitas, said he was unaware effectively is taking place an increase or whether it is a case of "Media epidemic," because he began to speak and to report it.
The truth, told Lusa, is that "there is often" cases of scabies - a contagious skin disease caused by a mite and giving intense itching - but are not reported.
However, the responsible safeguarded that even if you are checking an increase in cases compared to previous years, is not at a level that implies a "national epidemic".
"It is controllable with treatment and passes quickly. Does not constitute a national risk to public health. To increase, we consider an intervention [the level of DGS], but no longer, "he said.
For now, scabies in schools are managed at the level of health centers. The intervention is in charge of the ACES (clusters of health centers) and ARS (regional health authorities).
In schools where there are children with scabies, the solution is to treat them all, since it is a "simple and prompt treatment" disease.
"It is to be made a serious treatment," he said, adding that health guidelines that exist for schools does not include scabies as a disease it is necessary to place the child quarantine.
Graça Freitas said it was up to the doctor, at its discretion, recommend that sick children stay home for 24 hours after starting treatment, but schools can not prohibit access.
The specific regulatory decree on the "communicable diseases originating school eviction" states that "the scab is not in the list of diseases temporarily away from school attendance and other educational activities the students, teaching and non-teaching".
In total they have been diagnosed more than 30 confirmed cases of scabies.
Only in Cascais's record of 23 in Sintra and there have been six since October. To these are added three more in Loures, one in Saint Adrian de Varzim and three in Leiria, reported Friday by the Morning Post.