School classrooms are ripe with all types of infections with most of them highly-contagious. Combine this with the willingness of kids to play without restriction and the result is the constant sharing of infections amongst themselves. Here are some common illnesses that kids pick up at school and their symptoms:
- Strep throat
This is like a sore throat but worse. The infection causes the throat to be inflamed and it is very painful. In addition to soreness of the throat, other symptoms of strep throat include fever, body ache, and nausea. If your child is showing any of the following symptoms, visit a pediatrician immediately.
- Whooping cough (Pertussis)
This illness has symptoms that are similar to that of a cold; a runny nose, fever, and light coughing. After some days, however, the coughing becomes more severe and the child struggles to catch a breath while coughing. Luckily, there is a vaccine to protect kids from contracting Pertussis; ask your pediatrician about it.
- Pink eye
Pink eye is very easy to spot as the kids’ eye becomes pink/bright red. There may also be some itching and the presence of thick mucus around the affected eye. With treatment, pink eye is known to clear out within days, so don’t waste any time before visiting a doctor.
- Chickenpox
Perhaps the worst of them all. It spreads quickly and causes fever, severe itching, fluid-filled blisters all over the skin, and it is very uncomfortable. However, since the discovery of a vaccine in 1995, chicken pox has almost been completely eradicated. Get yourchild vaccinated today to protect them from chicken pox.
If your child exhibits any of the illnesses above, do not let them go back to school; this will lead to more children getting infected. Rather, visit your pediatrician and seek diagnosis and treatment. If you live in Northwest Houston, then be sure to visit Pediatric Healthcare, we provide quality care for children and have been doing so for over 10 years. Call 281-655-1500 or 936-539-8190 to book an appointment.
