Community health affects individual health, and nowhere is this more apparent than in schools. Kids spend a large part of their day at school interacting with other kids. This makes them susceptible to contracting a variety of illnesses. They may catch a cold, the flu, strep throat, chicken pox, measles or even conjunctivitis. Children are also susceptible to parasites like lice. Certain behaviours could also give them conditions like UTIs or sunstroke. This is mostly unavoidable and if your child does get sick there is no need to panic. Educate and equip yourself to deal with these illnesses at home, and if it seems more serious consult your paediatrician.
It’s time to go back to school, and along with it comes the risk of infection. In a post-covid world, we are aware of how much our community affects our individual health. Children are possibly the best example of this. They spend a large part of their day at school surrounded by their peers and are more interactive than adults at work. They eat together, play together, learn together and share a lot of physical resources. This is a beautiful ecosystem, but can also become a hotspot for infectious diseases. Children are resilient, but they are also more vulnerable as their growing bodies can pick up these infections more easily. This is not abnormal, and your kid will probably get sick multiple times this year. This isn’t something to worry about. Our goal is to be prepared and treat these illnesses correctly as they come up. We must not tackle this issue with a “germaphobe” approach but with more emphasis on building immunity.
Children can pick up a host of common illnesses from their peers at school. Some of these illnesses are:
Common Cold – This is the most common illness your child could get at school. The common cold is caused by a virus and spreads very easily in environments like schools and daycares. Symptoms of the common cold include a runny nose, a cough and chest or throat congestion. Since it is caused by a virus, the common cold usually does not need antibiotics, and can be treated with warm fluids and rest.
Influenza – Similar to the common cold, influenza is also caused by a virus. It affects the respiratory tract, causing symptoms like headache, fever, runny or blocked nose, fatigue and stomach aches. Influenza is highly contagious and can easily spread through the air, when the infected child coughs or sneezes.
Strep throat – Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by streptococcus pyogenes. It infects the nose and throat, causing symptoms like sore throat, swollen tonsils, fever and stomach ache. Strep throat is treated with prescription antibiotics. Do not use broad spectrum over-the-counter antibiotics for this. Visit your pediatrician for a confirmed diagnosis.
Conjunctivitis – Conjunctivitis is the swelling or inflammation of the thin transparent layer that covers the eyeball. It may be caused by an allergic reaction, an infection or exposure to chemical irritants like dust, chlorine or noxious chemicals. The main symptoms are swelling in the eyes and eyelids, and continuous pus-like discharge from the eyes. If your child develops any of these symptoms, take them to the pediatrician immediately.
Urinary Tract Infections – Bladder infections or urinary tract infections occur when bacteria builds up in the urinary tract. Children usually develop urinary tract infections when they avoid using the bathroom or forget to drink water. UTIs are more common in girls. Symptoms of a UTI include pain or burning during urination, the need to urinate frequently, abdominal pain and bed-wetting. UTIs must be confirmed with a urine test at the doctor’s clinic.
Chicken Pox – Chicken Pox is a contagious disease that that causes rashes and itchy blisters on the whole body and face. The child will also likely have fever and throat pain. The chicken pox vaccine is usually given to children when they are 12 to 15 months old. They will need a booster shot between the ages of 4 and 6. While this is less common than some other illnesses we have mentioned, it can easily be picked up by children at school if they have not received their booster shot.
Measles – Measles is another illness that still affects school students despite vaccines being available. Children are given the MMR vaccine against measles when they are 9 to 12 months old. This is followed by booster shots at 1.5 years and 4 years. The symptoms of measles include a high fever, extreme fatigue, cough, runny nose, bloodshot eyes and skin rashes. Measles is highly contagious, so your child should stay home if they start showing any symptoms.
Food poisoning – Food poisoning is more common in the hot months. Food tends to spoil quicker when it is hot. Germs thrive in food that is warm and moist. Food that is cooked at home can also become contaminated if it is packed incorrectly. Symptoms of food poisoning include a stomach ache, vomiting, diahrrea and dehydration. Some kids may also develop a fever. If your child has food poisoning, feed them a diet of soft, bland, easily digestible foods and lots of fluids.
Head Lice – Lice are tiny blood-sucking parasites that get into the hair. They lay eggs on the hair and feed on blood from the scalp. They can be very contagious, but often aren’t very dangerous. They make the head feel itchy and cause small bumps or sores on the scalp. There are many over-the-counter shampoos and hair treatments to kill lice. The lice need to be combed out and killed. They also contaminate bedding and clothing, so these should be cleaned and sterilised as well.
Sunstroke – India is a hot country. Children should be encouraged to play outside, but with caution. When they spend too much time in the hot sun, children are susceptible to sunstroke. They could also become dehydrated. Symptoms of sunstroke include fainting and an increased pulse. Children should take regular breaks in the shade, and drink enough water to avoid sunstroke.
Your child is saying they don’t feel very well. How do you decide if you should let them skip school? As a rule, if your child has fever, they should stay home. Vomiting and diahrrea are also bad signs. Skin rashes that look like chicken pox or measles are also a cause for alarm. If your child has any of these symptoms they should see a pediatrician right away. If you spot lice on your child, it is best to skip school and spend the day removing all the parasites. Lice spread very quickly, so out of concern for the other children it is best to deal with it right away. It is also a good idea to inform the school of the lice so they can inform other parents to check their children as well. If your child has a mild cough or cold, they can still attend school but with precautions. It is a good idea to give them a mask to wear and a handkerchief to prevent the spread of their illness.
All kids get sick at school sometime or another. It’s bound to happen with so many children interacting with one another. Having said that, we don’t want kids to become germaphobes and isolate themselves out of fear. The goal is to equip them with strategies to build immunity and practice good hygiene:
Wash hands – We cannot stress this enough with children at school. They need to wash their hands as often as possible. Before and after eating, after using the washroom, after playing sports, after handling trash and after any laboratory activity. If your child has a cold or cough, give them a bottle of hand sanitiser and advise them to use it to sanitise their hands every hour. Encourage them to share it with their friends too.
Keep vaccinations up to date – Consult your paediatrician and make sure all your child’s vaccinations are updated. Keep the school informed of their vaccination status as well.
Teach your child to avoid touching their face – Touching your face with dirty hands can help infections spread directly into your nose, mouth and eyes. The skin is a pretty good barrier against infection (with the exception of cuts), but these parts of your face are vulnerable. Teach your child to avoid touching these so even if they get something on their hands, it doesn’t infect them.
Feed your children a healthy diet – Make sure your child eats a wide range of fruits and vegetables. You can give them a multi-vitamin every day as well. Avoiding processed, overly salty and overly fatty food is good too. Pack a healthy lunch and snacks for your child to eat at school. Try to make sure you pack foods that will not spoil over the course of the day, as most children do not refrigerate their food at school.
Stay hydrated – Make sure your child drinks plenty of water over the course of the day. Drinking water helps flush out bacteria and toxins in the body. It also helps them avoid dehydration and overheating while playing. If your child plays outside in the heat, consider giving them a cap to protect from the harsh sun. If they tend to get very sweaty, send a towel and a change of clothes with them so they don’t stay in their sweaty clothes all day.
Exercise everyday – Children should play every day. Exercise is good for kids mental and physical health, as well as for their social development. Exercise helps kids deal with their anxiety and stress. It also helps them sleep better at night. All of this helps children keep their immunity up and helps their bodies fight against diseases.
Wear a mask – If your child is feeling a little sick or has a weakened immune system, give them a mask to wear to school. A mask can protect a sick child with an already weakened immune system from catching some other illness. It is also a measure to protect other kids at school from getting sick. If your kid is very sick, just let them skip school.
Discuss community health with teachers and other parents – If you are worried about the hygiene standards at school bring it up with the teachers. You could speak to other parents as well and gather your concerns to present a comprehensive case to the school board. Community health affects individual health, so mobilize your community. For expert guidance and top-notch paediatric care, visit Kauvery Hospital. With branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy, our dedicated team is here to help your child stay healthy and thrive.
Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.
Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 • Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801
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