Back to School Germs!
The start of a new school year can mean new friends, new schools and possibly new germs for your children. Experts say there are several illnesses parents especially need to watch out for. According to research, the top five things your kid is most likely to catch at school are:
- A cold, with a billion cases each year.
- Head lice - 12 million cases a year
- Ringworm, which affects up to 20% of the population
- Pink eye, which causes 164 million missed school days annually
- Chicken pox - about 4 million cases a year
They're all easily spread at school because of the close contact of children at school. Kids are coming from a protected environment in which they were not with other big groups of children, so they may be a little more prone, a little more susceptible. Plus, they touch their mouth and nose and then touch other children without washing their hands.
Parents should always let the school nurse know if a child comes down with something that we're not aware of and any other illnesses they might have that are chronic or contagious. Doctors say the start of the school year coincides with cold and flu season. Hand washing can not be stressed enough.
