Common back-to-school illnesses

The kids are back in school starting today. Now, it’s also time for those back-to-school illnesses to crop up! But no need for parents to worry – there are ways to get through this season with minimal stress.

First, parents must realize that it is normal for kids to get as many as three or four separate illnesses in a given school year. Illnesses tend to cluster in the rainy months, so it may seem like the kids are sick all the time, but, in truth, they are actually just having multiple normal illnesses at close intervals.

Some of the more common illnesses that returning school kids suffer from are:

Upper Respiratory Infection (The Common Cold)

Upper respiratory infections typically start with mild nasal stuffiness or runny nose, so they can appear to be allergy symptoms at first. But after 3 to 4 days, symptoms become more severe and a cough, sore throat or ear pain may also occur. Symptoms then resolve after about 10 days. Yes, 10 days.

So, if the child has these symptoms and has no trouble breathing, no fever and is eating and drinking, the chances are he or she will be fine. Parents should call a doctor if the child has pain or increasing severity of symptoms, or if symptoms don’t get better or do not resolve in 7 to 10 days. Upper respiratory infections are almost always caused by multiple kinds of viruses (which is why kids can get more than one in a year and many in a lifetime) and never require antibiotic treatment.

How to tell if the child has allergic rhinitis (‘allergies” or “hay fever”) versus a common cold? Although symptoms can be similar, allergic rhinitis usually does not get worse and then better, and it tends to linger for weeks at a time. There may be no fever or cough. If parents think their child might have allergic rhinitis, it’s better ask a doctor for the best way to help with symptoms.

Ear Infections

Ear infections, also known as otitis media, are often, but not always, a complication of upper respiratory infection.

In children who are younger than 4 or 5 years old, there are usually symptoms of an upper respiratory infection (nasal discharge, congestion, cough) for a few days, then the child seems cranky or irritable, and sometimes indicates ear pain if he or she is old enough to communicate. Older children often have only sudden onset of ear pain.

Parents should always have the child checked by a doctor for any suspicion of ear infection. Sometimes these infections will need antibiotics, and sometimes they won’t. the doctor will determine what treatment is needed.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis, or sinus infection, is also frequently a complication of an upper respiratory infection. Symptoms include fever, headache, facial pain and cough, and the symptoms usually linger for a week or more. Contrary to popular belief, most sinus infections in children are caused by viruses, not bacteria, and therefore don’t need antibiotics to treat them. Also, the color of the child’s nasal discharge does not indicate whether the infection is bacterial or viral. If there are severe symptoms or symptoms lasting more than two weeks, the child’s doctor will sometimes prescribe antibiotics.

Influenza (Flu)

The best way to avoid influenza virus is to have kids immunized against the disease. Flu shots are commonly available now at most doctors’ clinics. The shot usually has no or minor side effects. Influenza can make the child very sick, and many children and adults end up being hospitalized every year due to this illness. At the very least, a child will miss 3 to 5 days of school if he or she gets the flu, which also means the parent will miss 3 to 4 days of work attending to a sick child.

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis, or “stomach infection,” causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes fever and abdominal pain. It usually resolves less than a week without need for any medication. The child should be referred to a doctor if there is severe abdominal pain, vomiting that does not stop after more than 12 hours, blood in the stool, or fever.

Lice

Head lice are quite common in school-age children, and are spread through contact with other children with lice. It has nothing to do with cleanliness. Symptoms include itching of the scalp, and visible lice.

Over-the-counter treatments are a good place to start if the parents suspect their child has lice. If symptoms persist after treatment with over-the-counter medication, a doctor must be sought to intervene, as there are multiple prescription medications that may be given. Alternative and “natural” treatments for lice should be avoided, as these can cause unwanted side effects.

Strep Throat

Strep throat is caused by bacteria called Streptococccus and needs to be treated with antibiotics. Children with strep throat usually have sore throat, fever, abdominal pain, headache and redness of the throat with white patches on the tonsils. The affected child will need a throat swab to diagnose strep throat. Strep throat is very contagious. During treatment, the child’s toothbrush should be changed.

To prevent illness, several precautions shall be observed:

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First, parents shall get all of the immunizations that are recommended for the child. This is the best and most effective way to avoid illnesses that are preventable by vaccine.

Next, hand washing. Antibacterial soap is not recommended, as it can be harmful and does not improve protection from infections. Instead, regular soap and warm water shall be used to wash hands before and after eating, after using the restroom, and after blowing one’s nose to help reduce the spread of germs.

Kids shall not share food or drinks with other kids. Kids like to share, which is good, except when it comes to germs. Drinking after another person from a bottle or cup, eating from the same plate or sharing utensils is a great way to spread infections, so children must be reminded to be careful.

A tissue shall be used when wiping the nose or sneezing, and putting it in the trash afterwards. Then, washing the hands or using a squirt of hand sanitizer afterwards. This will help keep germs off of the objects touched and helps keep germs from spreading. Many viruses can live for a few hours on hard surfaces like desks, doorknobs, computer keys, and toys. Children shall be reminded of this, and parents shall make sure they have a pack of tissues and a bottle of hand sanitizer in their backpack for school.

Finally, parents shall try to keep their child away from other people when the child is sick, and keep the child away from others who are sick. This may not be always possible, but here’s a guideline for when to keep the child out of school:

If the child has a very high fever, he or she should stay home from school until 24 hours after fever has resolved. If the child is coughing frequently, is vomiting, or has diarrhea that requires many bathroom visits, he or she should also stay at home. And a doctor shall be called in.