Most Common Communicable Disease Your Child Can Pick Up At School

Sending children to school means exposure to a various communicable diseases. As a parent, it's important to be aware of the common illnesses that can spread among children. In this blog post, we'll cover the top 10 most common communicable diseases that your child can pick up at school, along with some key points to remember.

Diseases Spreading Among Children

Cold or Flu:

• Highly contagious viral infections
• Symptoms: runny/stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, fever, body aches
• Prevention: hand-washing, avoid sharing personal items, stay home if sick

Head Lice:

• Small insects that live on the scalp and feed on human blood
• Spread easily through close contact
• Symptoms: intense itching and discomfort
• Prevention: avoid sharing personal items, keep hair tied back

Influenza (Flu):

• Highly contagious viral infection
• Symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue
• Prevention: hand-washing, cover coughs/sneezes, stay home if sick

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye or Eye Infection):

• Common eye infection caused by a virus or bacteria
• Symptoms: redness, itching, discharge from eyes
• Prevention: avoid touching eyes, hand-washing, avoid sharing personal items

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Diseases (HFMD):

• Common viral infection in young children
• Symptoms: fever, mouth sores, rash on hands and feet
• Prevention: hand-washing, avoid close contact with infected individuals, stay home if sick

Strep Throat:

• Bacterial infection causing sore throat, fever, swollen tonsils
• Spreads easily through contact with infected saliva/mucus
• Prevention: hand-washing, cover mouth when coughing/sneezing, avoid sharing personal items

Pinworms:

• Small, thread-like worms living in intestines causing itching around the anus
• Spread easily through contact with infected surfaces/objects
• Prevention: hand-washing, avoid scratching anus, keep nails short and clean

Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu):

• Viral or bacterial infection causing inflammation of stomach/intestines
• Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps
• Prevention: hand-washing, avoid sharing personal items, stay home if sick

Measles:

• Severe viral infection highly contagious and potentially life-threatening
• Treatment: see a doctor and get vaccinated

Hepatitis A:

• Viral liver infection highly contagious causing fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain
• Treatment: rest, hydration, over-the-counter medications to alleviate discomfort

Key points to remember:

1. Many communicable diseases can spread among children in school, including colds, flu, head lice, pink eye, HFMD, strep throat, pinworms, gastroenteritis, measles, and hepatitis A.
2. Symptoms of these diseases can range from mild to severe and can include sneezing, coughing, itching, fever, blisters, sore throat, and abdominal pain, among others.
3. Treatment options vary depending on the disease and can include rest, fluids, over-the-counter medications, prescription antibiotics, and antifungal creams.
4. It's crucial to take steps to prevent the spread of these diseases by encouraging good hygiene habits, such as washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding close contact with others who are sick.
5. If your child develops symptoms of a communicable disease, it's important to seek medical attention promptly and keep them home from school until they are fully recovered to avoid spreading the disease to others.

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