Winter is the peak time for many infectious illnesses, as the cold weather can suppress your immune system and increase your vulnerability to infections. This post covers steps you can take to help protect your family from seasonal illnesses, how to recognize symptoms of common illnesses, and how to make informed decisions on whether a sick student is well enough to attend school.
Keep good hygiene habits and healthy environment
Good hygiene stops infections from spreading, which means less disrupted learning time. Teach your child to wash their hands properly for 20 seconds, use tissues for coughs and sneezes, and stay away from others when sick. Our school has installed individual air purifiers for every classroom and implemented a centralized air purification system to maintaining a healthy environment during adverse air conditions. Please encourage students to wear masks and reduce outdoor exercise when the air conditions are bad.
Know when to keep your child at home
For some illnesses, it is important to keep your child at home to stop their infection spreading to others. For example, cough with fever, diarrhea or vomiting, they should stay home for at least 48 hours after the last episode.
Know how to spot the signs
INFLUENZA （FLU）
Flu viruses are common in the winter season. If left untreated, the illness can become severe and turn into bronchitis or pneumonia.
– Sudden, excessive fatigue
– Body aches, sore throat
– Chills, headache, fever
– Persistent cough
NOROVIRUS
Norovirus causes stomach inflammation. It is extremely contagious and remains in full swing from fall through winter. It can be transmitted from person to person, or via contaminated foods.
– Diarrhea, abdominal pain
– Feeling of sickness, muscle pain
– Nausea and vomiting
CHICKENPOX
Chickenpox is an illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus, it is common and mostly affects children, but you can get it at any age.
– Fever, headache and tiredness
– Raised bumps which break out over a few days.
– Small blisters in about one day and then break and leak.
– Crusts and scabs, which over the broken blisters and take a few more days to heal.
MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIAE
Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria commonly cause mild infections of the respiratory system. Sometimes these bacteria can cause more serious lung infections that require care in a hospital.
– Sore throat
– Fatigue, headache
– Fever
– Slowly worsening cough that can last for weeks or months.
Ensure your child is up to date with their vaccinations
Vaccines provide the best protection against many common illnesses. If you child is up to date on their vaccination schedule, they should already be protected against diseases like whooping cough, measles, mumps throughout their school careers, as most provide lifelong immunity. It’s strongly advised for school-age children to get the flu vaccine, and it’s important to get a new one each year.
Through these preventative measures, and by recognizing illnesses promptly, you can help your child stay healthy and keep school absences to a minimum during the winter season.
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Author:
Shanshan Chen Health Center Officer (School Doctor)
