Ready to Get Back to School? So Are These 4 Common Back-To-School Illnesses

It seems like summer only started yesterday, but somehow it’s September once again. Back to school season is officially in full swing, but with the return to school also comes the return of those nasty school germs and illnesses.
Being in a community of hundreds of other students and sharing space with them is sure to lead to at least one back-to-school illness. To make sure you’re prepared for anything your child could bring home, here are four common illnesses to stay aware of as school gets back in motion.

The Common Cold

It may not be the biggest and baddest of back-to-school illnesses, but it certainly is the most common. This generally occurs within the first three weeks of school being back in session, but luckily, is easily treated. A short trip to your family medicine professional or a family urgent care center near you should do the trick if symptoms get particularly bad. Otherwise, lots of sleep and fluids are the best cure for this pesky illness.

Chicken Pox

Especially if your child is in elementary school, this is a risk. The most important thing you can do as a parent in this situation is know the signs. Chicken pox usually starts off as red spots on the chest area and then spreads to other parts of the body, so make sure you’re vigilant, especially if there have been any other cases at your child’s school.

Strep Throat

There are approximately 110 million emergency room visits annually, and a good number of them are for conditions like strep throat. Symptoms of this illness include throat pain, swollen nodes, and in severe cases, abdominal pain. This is an extremely common illness that often flares up at the beginning of the school year, as it is spread mainly through sneezes and coughs.

Influenza

Though sharing some symptoms with the common cold, this illness is far nastier. If your child has a very high fever and you suspect they might have influenza, you should seek emergency care immediately.

Every family medicine practice is equipped to deal with these back-to-school illnesses, but you should be too. It’s essential to know the signs and symptoms of these common illnesses so you can adequately care for your child and know when to visit your family medicine provider.