Articles
Top Five Diseases Your Child Can Catch In The Classroom
For some parents, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. School's back in session. Togetherness in the classroom oftentimes results in spreading disease and infection. Here is the top 5 list of diseases your kid can catch in the classroom -- and what to do about them (not in order of severity).
1. Lice - Don’t panic. Itching is the only major health issue if your child gets lice. Head lice are common in children ages 3-11. Lice live and thrive in all types of hair; they don’t jump and have nothing to do with hygiene. Your first line of defense is an over-the-counter treatment that kills lice. A second treatment may be necessary to take care of nits. A final resort may be an extreme haircut to eliminate the habitat.
2. Conjunctivitis or pink eye - This infection of the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye and the inner eyelids) is common in young children and can spread rapidly. It feels like sand in the eye and itches; also looks much worse than it is. If you believe your child has conjunctivitis, it’s important to schedule a visit to your healthcare provider to determine the cause and make a treatment plan.
3. Hand, foot and mouth disease - A mild, contagious viral infection common in young children. Symptoms include sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet, sometimes on the buttocks - sore throat, and fever. There’s no specific treatment for the virus, so manage symptoms by keeping hydrated. Young children often put their hands in their mouths so a good take-away is to encourage hand washing and good hygiene. Contact your pediatrician if symptoms don’t improve after 10 days.
4. Ringworm - Doesn’t come from a worm. It’s a fungal infection of the skin that starts with a rash of tiny red bumps. The edges of the area are red, raised or scaly and the inside of the rash may be pink or look normal. Ringworm is contagious and grows well on moist, warm, dark areas of the body. Treat ringworm with an over-the-counter antifungal cream. Wash hands frequently, as well as all clothing and surfaces that may have been worn or touched. If there’s little or no improvement after 2 weeks, contact your healthcare provider.
5. Impetigo - Contagious and can be spread throughout a household, with children reinfecting themselves or other family members. This infection of the skin is caused by bacteria and is an open lesion (or group of lesions) with a red base and a honey-colored crust. Impetigo usually occurs on the face, neck, arms, and limbs, but can appear on any part of the body. Swollen lymph nodes may accompany. Treatment involves antibiotic, so contact your healthcare provider for a complete diagnosis. Good hygiene and frequent handwashing with anti-bacterial soap will be part of the treatment plan.
The best way to avoid spreading germs is proper hand washing. Encourage your kids to sing the alphabet or the Happy Birthday song from beginning to end to teach them how much time should be spent on this task. This includes front and back of the hand and in-between fingers. Hand sanitizer is a good alternative when soap and water aren’t available. If you have questions about your child and public health, contact the medical team at Goldsboro Pediatrics. We’re here for you and your family because you’re part of our family.
Sources:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org
https://kidshealth.org
https://www.mayoclinic.org
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org
https://childrensnational.org
Back to Archive