How to Prevent Back-to-School Illnesses
&srotate=0)
Is your child coming home from school with a new illness what seems like every other week? From getting bright, colorful school gear to seeing friends every day, the back-to-school season is such an exciting time for children and parents! However, the fun adventure of a new school year is often accompanied by new germs too.
Find out how to keep your child as healthy as possible throughout the new school year!
Common illnesses for school-age children typically include the stomach bug, common cold, head lice, strep throat, and flu. These contagious infections are typically treatable at home with extra rest and TLC but can occasionally require additional care. Common illnesses are highly contagious and are normal to occur constantly at the start of a new year in schools and child care.
Here’s what you can do to build up your child’s immune system, help prevent them from frequently getting sick, and reduce the chances of spreading illnesses to your entire family.
Practice Proper Handwashing
Handwashing is a quick and highly effective task to limit the spread of infections and keep our immune systems healthier.
Practice hand hygiene 101 with your child by following the steps below:
- Wet hands with clean water (warm or cold)
- Rub hands together to form a soapy lather
- Scrub soapy hands together for 20 seconds or more
- Rinse under running water
- Dry hands on a clean towel
Build immunity through food
Eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins, fruits, and vegetables helps to give your growing child the nutrients they need for a stronger immune system and protects them better against illnesses.
Kid-friendly foods recommended to boost immunity include:
- Milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- Yogurt
- Berries
- Nuts and seeds
- Broccoli
- Leafy greens
- Fish and lean meats
Reduce stress
Maintaining lower stress and anxiety levels is helpful for promoting great overall health for your child.
Some strategies to do this are:
- Regular physical activity
- Practice deep breathing techniques
- Ensure they’re getting enough sleep
- Show your support during difficult events
- Practice coping skills
Keep vaccinations up to date
Vaccines help avoid harmful diseases, reduce the spread of infections, and keep your child’s health in good standing. Annual wellness checkups are a simple way to stay on course with vaccinations, prevent illnesses, and track development and growth! Click here to schedule your child’s wellness visit this year.
What you can do if your child is sick
As parents ourselves, we fully understand that when a child is sick, you want to do everything in your power to get them well and back to their normal self as fast as possible! This is often overwhelming for parents as anxiety can kick in quickly, but we want to remind you not to panic. Thankfully, many ordinary childhood illnesses naturally subside and can be cured with plenty of fluids, rest at home, and extra care. Alarming symptoms include persistent high fevers or any fever over 100.4 for a baby less than 2 months old, signs of dehydration or lethargy, prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, unbearable pain, trouble breathing, and a lingering or worsening cough. If you are unsure of what to do or notice that your child’s symptoms rapidly progress from mild to advanced, we urge you to make an appointment with Village Pediatrics right away to partner with an expert provider in Plano or Frisco, TX!
Click here or reach out to your preferred location below:
- Village Pediatrics in Plano: Text or call (214) 473-2200, ext. 3
- Village Pediatrics in Frisco: Text (972) 525-7381 or call (469) 872-9966
If your child has an urgent need, we also proudly offer after-hours care! You have access to speak with a nurse 24/7 by calling (214) 473-2200. Saturday hours are also available from 8:30-11:00 am with a scheduled telehealth appointment.
Regardless of the date published, no content on this website should ever be used as a replacement for direct medical advice from your primary care provider or another qualified clinician.