With another school year kicking off, a common concern for parents, teachers, and school staff is keeping children healthy. Being in a classroom environment, there are always concerns that one kid getting sick will lead to several kids getting sick.
Dr. Buck Bania, with the SEARHC AICS clinic, listed some common "back to school" sicknesses people should be aware of, and common ways to prevent/cure them. The best way to avoid getting sick in school is to avoid germs as much as possible
"It's hand washing, hand washing, hand washing," Bania said.
He also recommended that kids stop picking their noses and that they also be taught how to properly cough. Bania said that the common way to cough, by putting a hand over one's mouth, is ineffective for stopping germs. He suggested that kids practice covering their mouth with their whole arm like a "Dracula cape" to avoid spreading anything contagious.
"Lice is the big thing people worry about in schools," he also said.
According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately six to twelve million lice infestations occur in the United States annually among children aged three to eleven. The CDC also says that lice can only be transferred from one person to the next by direct contact with the hair of the infected person. Bania said that parents should always check for lice if their child complains about their head itching. He added that while treatment is relatively simple, getting lice is a random event and can't really be avoided.
"It has nothing to do with personal hygiene if you get infected, it's just bad luck," he said.
Throat and ear infections are also common illnesses that can occur in schools. Bania said that there are many things that can cause throat infections, but antibiotics are not required for treatment unless it is strep throat. As far as ear infections go, Bania said that antibiotics should only be taken if they persist after three days.
Bania added that having a fever is not the only sign that people are sick, and not having a fever does not necessarily mean that person is healthy. People can be contagious both before and after showing symptoms of sickness, he said. Parents should keep a close eye on their children for any symptoms and use their best judgment about whether or not they should go to school.
The last thing Bania mentioned was the importance of children being vaccinated. Vaccines, he said, were a good way to keep healthy and avoid diseases. He said that there were a percentage of people who had become afraid of vaccines, due to a report linking vaccinations and cases of autism. However, he said that this paper was debunked and no such link exists.
Bania suggested that parents visit the CDC's website for further advice on keeping children healthy through the school year, at http://www.cdc.gov under the "healthy living" section.
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