Dr. Laura Rusch is a board-certified pediatrician with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Group. She sees patients at the Kaiser Permanente Kensington Medical Center.
Back to school also means back to germs.
As a board-certified pediatrician with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, I regularly see an uptick in kids getting sick this time of year. They’re back in school or daycare, playing with their friends, and sharing not only pencils but germs, too.
Viruses are part of childhood: Kids are building their own immune systems. That’s good. But being sick is still no fun.
Are you wondering how to survive what we call respiratory virus season?
Colds, Coughs, COVID, and More
As the weather turns colder, kids start coming home from school with runny noses, congestion, coughs, sore throats, and fevers.
Symptoms of a viral illness typically last three to seven days — and symptoms should start improving during that time. Don’t be alarmed, though, if a cough seems to linger for a few more weeks. As long as the cough is improving and the child is otherwise playful and eating and sleeping normally, a lingering cough usually isn’t reason to worry.
Some illnesses your child might catch:
- The common cold. Symptoms include runny or stuffy nose, coughing, sneezing, and sore throat.
- Flu. Symptoms include fever, muscle and body aches, chills, and fatigue.
- COVID-19. Symptoms include fever, cough, new loss of taste or smell, muscle pain, and headache.
- RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Symptoms include congestion or runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever, and wheezing.
Many viruses share similar symptoms. Reaching out to your pediatrician can help determine which virus your child is facing.
Preventing Getting Sick
Escaping the fall and winter months without catching a virus is challenging, but there are steps we can take to lower the risk.
Vaccinate. One of the best ways to prevent some illnesses or to minimize their severity is to get vaccinated. Adults and children should get an annual flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine. Parents should ensure children are up-to-date on childhood vaccines, such as for whooping cough, measles, mumps, rubella, and others. We also now have an RSV vaccine for older adults, pregnant people, and infants. Check with your health care team to see if you are eligible.
Proper handwashing. Teach children how to thoroughly wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. Teach them to interlace their fingers and use warm water and mild soap. They should be sure to wash the tips of their thumbs, too, an often-missed spot.
Disinfect surfaces. Regularly disinfect toys, doorknobs, countertops, and other high-touch areas.
Don’t share. As much as we teach our children to be kind and to share, teach them not to share cups, utensils, and towels with others.
Sneeze into your elbow. Teach children not to sneeze into their hands. And if they use a tissue, throw it out afterward and then wash their hands.
Living a healthy lifestyle also can help reduce the risk of getting sick. That means eating healthy meals, including breakfast and snacks; getting adequate sleep; and exercising. Kids should exercise about 30 to 60 minutes daily five days a week.
When to See the Doctor
Every parent naturally worries when their child is sick and wonders when to call the doctor. You know your child best, so call if you have any concerns. Here are some general guidelines regarding when to reach out:
- Your child has a fever (defined as 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) for five days. Your child should be seen if this is the case.
- Your child is having difficulty breathing. That could be breathing fast or having labored breathing.
- Your child is showing signs of dehydration. Your child may not be drinking enough fluids. You may notice they aren’t urinating as much as usual, have a dry mouth, or have sunken eyes. They may be listless.
- Your child has a sore throat. This may be a symptom of strep throat, which needs to be treated with prescription antibiotics. (Kaiser Permanente patients can do an evisit on kp.org or the KP app for sore throats. A doctor will review the symptoms in less than two hours and determine whether a strep test is needed.)
- Your child’s overall symptoms aren’t getting better after a few days. Ongoing vomiting diarrhea, ear pain, or wet cough are reasons to seek medical attention.
Kaiser Permanente members have exclusive access to Get Care Now, where you can talk with a Permanente Medicine physician over video or phone anytime, 24/7/365, from anywhere in the country. A doctor is available to discuss your concerns within 30 minutes on average.
A Note About Lice
In addition to respiratory viruses, I also see plenty of cases of head lice when kids are back in school. Remind children not to share combs, brushes, hats, scarves, hair ribbons, and headphones with their friends.
When to Keep Your Kids Home from School
Parents and children always ask me about going back to school. One rule of thumb is after the child is fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. For strep, it’s OK to go back to school once the child has been on antibiotics for 24 hours. And, of course, your child should be feeling better before returning to school.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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