Common Communicable Diseases Your Child Can Get at School
Quick Answer: Schools are hotbeds for spreading infections - hand-foot-mouth disease, conjunctivitis (pink eye), head lice, flu, chickenpox, and stomach bugs are most common. Good hygiene is your best defense: teach handwashing, don't share personal items, and keep sick children home. Most school illnesses are mild and self-limiting, but know when to see a doctor. Vaccination prevents the most serious diseases.
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Why Schools Spread Illness
Watch: Common Childhood Infections - What Parents Need to Know
Schools create perfect conditions for disease spread:
Many children in close contact
Shared surfaces and objects
Developing immune systems
Children touch faces frequently
May not practice good hygiene
Reality check: Your child WILL get sick from school. It's normal - they're building immunity. Most illnesses are mild. Focus on prevention and knowing when to worry.
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Most Common School Illnesses
1. Common Cold
What it is: Viral upper respiratory infection
Feature
Details
**Symptoms**
Runny nose, cough, sore throat, mild fever
**Contagious period**
1-2 days before symptoms to 5-7 days after
**Duration**
7-10 days
**Treatment**
Rest, fluids, symptom relief
When to see doctor: Fever lasting >3 days, difficulty breathing, ear pain
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2. Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease (HFMD)
What it is: Viral illness (usually Coxsackie virus)
Feature
Details
**Symptoms**
Fever, painful mouth sores, rash on hands/feet
**Contagious period**
Most contagious first week; can shed virus for weeks
**Duration**
7-10 days
**Treatment**
Pain relief, fluids, cold foods
When to see doctor: Unable to drink due to mouth pain, high fever, dehydration signs
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3. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
What it is: Infection or inflammation of eye membrane
Type
Cause
Appearance
Treatment
**Viral**
Virus
Clear discharge, itchy
Self-limiting
**Bacterial**
Bacteria
Thick yellow/green discharge
Antibiotic drops
**Allergic**
Allergens
Both eyes, itchy
Antihistamines
When to see doctor: Yellow/green discharge, pain, vision changes, infant under 3 months
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4. Gastroenteritis (Stomach Bug)
What it is: Infection causing vomiting and/or diarrhea
Feature
Details
**Symptoms**
Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever
**Contagious period**
While symptomatic + 24-48 hours after
**Duration**
1-3 days (vomiting), 5-7 days (diarrhea)
**Treatment**
Rehydration (ORS), bland diet
When to see doctor: Blood in stool, signs of dehydration, fever >3 days, can't keep fluids down
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5. Head Lice
What it is: Tiny insects that live on scalp
Feature
Details
**Symptoms**
Itchy scalp, visible nits (eggs), live lice
**Contagious period**
While lice are present
**Duration**
Until treated
**Treatment**
Medicated shampoo + nit combing
Important: Lice don't mean poor hygiene! They prefer clean hair. Don't panic.
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6. Chickenpox (Varicella)
What it is: Highly contagious viral illness
Feature
Details
**Symptoms**
Fever, itchy rash (blisters), fatigue
**Contagious period**
1-2 days before rash until all blisters crust
**Duration**
5-10 days
**Treatment**
Symptom relief, calamine lotion
Prevention: Varicella vaccine (2 doses)
When to see doctor: High fever, rash spreads to eyes, signs of infection, infant under 1 year
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7. Influenza (Flu)
What it is: Respiratory viral infection (not a "stomach flu")
Feature
Details
**Symptoms**
High fever, body aches, headache, cough, fatigue
**Contagious period**
1 day before to 5-7 days after symptoms
**Duration**
5-7 days (fatigue may last longer)
**Treatment**
Rest, fluids; antivirals in some cases
Prevention: Annual flu vaccine
When to see doctor: Difficulty breathing, persistent fever, symptoms worsen after improving
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8. Strep Throat
What it is: Bacterial throat infection
Feature
Details
**Symptoms**
Severe sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, NO cough
**Contagious period**
Until 24 hours on antibiotics
**Duration**
Improves within 24-48 hours of antibiotics
**Treatment**
Antibiotics (necessary to prevent complications)
When to see doctor: Severe sore throat + fever - needs testing
Don't send sick children to school - It spreads illness
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When to Keep Your Child Home
Keep Home If:
Fever (above 37.5°C or 99.5°F)
Vomiting or diarrhea
Severe cough or cold symptoms
Pink eye with discharge
Undiagnosed rash
Too tired to participate
Can Return to School When:
Illness
Can Return
**Fever**
Fever-free 24 hours (without medication)
**Vomiting/diarrhea**
No episodes for 24 hours
**Pink eye (bacterial)**
24 hours after starting antibiotics
**Strep throat**
24 hours after starting antibiotics
**Chickenpox**
All blisters have crusted over
**Head lice**
After first treatment
**HFMD**
When fever-free and sores are healing
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Vaccination: Your Best Defense
Vaccines prevent the most serious communicable diseases:
Vaccine
Prevents
**MMR**
Measles, Mumps, Rubella
**Varicella**
Chickenpox
**DTaP/Tdap**
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
**Flu**
Influenza (annual)
**Pneumococcal**
Pneumonia, meningitis
**Hepatitis A**
Hepatitis A
Important: Keep vaccinations up to date. Vaccines protect your child AND other children who can't be vaccinated.
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When to See a Doctor
Seek Care If:
Fever lasting more than 3 days
Fever above 39°C (102.2°F) in any child
Any fever in infant under 3 months
Signs of dehydration
Difficulty breathing or wheezing
Severe sore throat with difficulty swallowing
Rash that doesn't blanch when pressed
Symptoms worsening after initial improvement
Child seems very unwell (you know your child best)
Emergency Signs
Go to ER if:
Struggling to breathe
Blue lips or face
Can't wake child or very drowsy
Stiff neck with fever
Seizure
Severe allergic reaction
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My child keeps getting sick from school. Is something wrong with their immune system?
A: Probably not. Children in daycare/school get 8-12 colds per year on average! Each infection builds immunity. If your child recovers normally between illnesses and is growing well, their immune system is working fine.
Q: Should I give antibiotics for every illness?
A: No! Most school illnesses are viral and don't respond to antibiotics. Unnecessary antibiotics contribute to resistance and can cause side effects. Only use when prescribed for bacterial infections.
Q: How do I tell if it's viral or bacterial?
A: Often you can't without testing. Generally, viral infections cause runny nose, cough, and low fever. Bacterial infections may cause higher fever, localized symptoms (ear pain, severe sore throat), and may not improve after 7-10 days.
Q: My child had an illness and now it's come back. Why?
A: Either it's a new illness (schools have many viruses circulating), or a secondary bacterial infection developed. See your doctor if symptoms return after improvement or last longer than expected.
Q: Can I do anything to make my child get sick less often?
A: Focus on: handwashing, adequate sleep, healthy diet, and keeping up with vaccines. Beyond that, getting sick is normal and actually trains the immune system. Frequency decreases as children get older.
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Key Takeaways
School illnesses are normal - 8-12 colds per year is typical
Most are viral - Will resolve without antibiotics
Handwashing is #1 - Teach and reinforce good hygiene
Keep sick kids home - Until fever-free 24 hours
Vaccinate - Prevents the most serious diseases
Know when to worry - High fever, dehydration, breathing trouble
Build immunity naturally - Good sleep, diet, and outdoor play
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This article was reviewed by pediatricians at Babynama. Last updated: January 2026
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