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