Preparations for going back to school flood the homes of thousands of Spaniards these days. As every year, the feat consists of arriving at the beginning of the course with all the items on an endless to-do list crossed out: covering the books, collecting the uniforms and buying school supplies, among others. While these types of worries may be enough for you, with the return to school the risk of your child contracting some of the most common and contagious childhood diseases also returns.
Most of the diseases of school age are part of the vaccination schedules. These are mainly bacterial and viral conditions that, despite the havoc they may cause, also contribute to strengthening the immune system of children. Living together for hours and the high ratio of students per classroom make contagion often inevitable. Given this situation, the best thing parents can do is instill in their children proper hygiene habits and follow the prevention guidelines set by pediatricians. Next, we will tell you which are the most contagious diseases in school-age children.
Respiratory infections such as colds and pharyngitis are among the most common and contagious in school-age children. We all know its symptoms: runny nose, fever, cough and nasal congestion. It is advisable to reduce fever with paracetamol and avoid cough suppressants, as they block secretions through the respiratory tract. The accumulation of mucus could lead to the appearance of otitis.
Conjunctivitis is the inflammation or infection of the membranes between the eyelids and the eyes. Its symptoms include tear production, crusty appearance, and red, itchy eyes. It is a highly contagious disease that must be treated with antibiotics.
It is common for young children to get gastroenteritis from fecal-oral contact. This condition causes diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. To cut its effects, good hydration and an astringent diet are essential. Taking antidiarrheals can be harmful at an early age.
It is a viral disease that can be spread by direct contact or through the air during the incubation period. It is characterized by the appearance of small but painful red sores on the hands, mouth and feet. These are accompanied by other symptoms such as fever and sore throat that can last up to 10 days. Its effects can be counteracted by taking antipyretics.
These types of parasites spread through the classrooms almost randomly and have a special predilection for clean hair. If you detect that your child has lice or nits, he applies a specific product to eradicate them, notifies the center to prevent possible contagion and, obviously, do not take him to class.
Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral disease that has rebounded in recent years, despite the existence of a vaccine. Children who suffer from it have blisters that cause a lot of itching, which later turn into scabs, as well as fever.
Other diseases caused by viruses are measles and mumps. Both are spread by droplets from the nose, mouth, or throat or by direct contact with objects containing saliva from an infected person. They cause headache, fever, sore throat and, in the case of measles, skin rashes. There is no treatment for any of them, although measles does have a vaccine.
