With school back in session, children are busy meeting their teachers, learning new subjects, making friends and in some cases, sharing germs. It’s that time of year again, parents. Here are some symptoms of illness to look for:
- Runny nose
- Frequent cough or sneezing
- Fever
- Fussiness or change in temperament
- Achy muscles
- Fatigue or exhaustion
- Change in general appearance (dark circles under the eyes, swollen glands, paler skin tone, etc.)
Many kids experience sickness when they are toddlers because, well, let’s face it, they don’t know any better. So often, these little ones come into contact with saliva on toys and equipment and they don’t take every opportunity to wash their hands. While teachers may do everything that they can, sickness still spreads. If you have a toddler that regularly attends a preschool facility, expect that they might be sick every four to six weeks.
For those kids who are school-aged or in high school, expect that they will contract something during cold and flu season. This time is usually from October to March. Thankfully, there are some easy lessons that you can tips that your child can follow when preventing sickness at school:
1. Sharing drinks and food is a big “no, no”. Germs can be passed so quickly, even if you take a quick sip from a friend’s water bottle.
2. Washing your hands throughout the day is vital to staying healthy. Wash your hands before meals, after using the restroom and after touching public property such as computers, door knobs, light switches and banisters. It’s also a good idea to wash your hands after recess and gym class.
3. Should you need to cough or sneeze, do it into your nook of your elbow.
4. Carry antibacterial soap in your book bag and use when needed.
5. Keep your hands out of your face, especially out of your mouth, nose and eyes.
Okay, you’ve done all that you can to prevent your child from picking up an illness at school but she is still complaining about feeling “icky”. Chances are your child picked up a virus within the last five to seven days and this is the most common form of sickness for kids. Be sure to speak with your physician about the next steps in medical care.
It is common for parents to send their children to school without knowing that they have picked up something and will be passing it on to others. This cannot always be helped and if the sickness manifests itself, they do what they can to treat it.
Just be sure that if you know your child is sick, you get the proper care. Often times, parents cannot secure babysitting and their child attends school when they are sick. This is unfair to the child as well as to the student body and faculty.
Once a child enters high school, they may complain about school attendance policies and missing important classes and events when they are sick. Nothing is more important than their health so insist that he or she stay home to speed up the recovery process.
Should you need to visit a doctor’s office, it is important to note that your child continue practicing sickness prevention like washing their hands after the visit and keeping their hands away from their face.
In emergency situations where hospitalization is required, by all means get the help that you need but proceed with caution when it comes to prevention. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “hospital-acquired infections account for 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths annually.” All patients are at risk, especially children in the hospital. You can decrease the risk of sickness for your children in the hospital by following these steps when possible:
- Insist that all health care staff and visitors wash their hands before entering your child’s hospital room.
- Ask all visitors to stay home if they are sick.
- Keep antibacterial soap handy during the visit.
For further information on General Medical – Pediatrics – Medical Doctor
Original post here: http://www.mtmweb.biz/blog/2011/sickness-and-kids-at-school-to-children-in-the-hospital-what-spreads/
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