Do you have a child coming home with all those elementary school germs everyday? My 3rd-grader came home from school recently just out of sorts. She was tired, quiet and just wanted to take a nap. It was so unlike her. She actually had a fever, too, which she hadn’t had in over a year! It turns out, she had a virus, which she was able to kick in a few days. But, the whole thing was just unusual since she rarely gets sick. Like a lot of other kids, my 5 started daycare pretty early. By the time my older kids got to elementary school, they were able to fight off their illnesses pretty quickly. But we still get hit hard sometimes. Here, I’ll share with you some of the most common medical concerns in elementary-schoolers, with tips on how to prevent and treat each one.
Accidents
Accidents are the leading cause of death in young children, according to the CDC . This includes injuries from burns, drowning, falls, poisoning, and road traffic. It’s so important to protect your children at all costs. Most children in elementary school are better able to protect themselves than a toddler can. But, they are still not always aware of their environment, nor the dangers around them.
Teach your child to stay away from fires and hot surfaces. Make sure he knows how to swim, and to stay away from water if there’s no adult around. Watch your kids closely on the playground, on bunk beds, or whenever they’re at a height above 3 feet. Teach your child to stay away from all medications and harmful chemicals. Be sure your child wears a helmet on bikes, roller skates, skate boards, scooters, etc, and watches out for cars whenever he’s on the road. Lastly, an appropriate car seat is necessary in the car 100% of the time.
Colds
Your elementary-schooler will likely get less colds than he did as a toddler. But, he’ll still get them. Colds are caused by viruses, which usually last 10-14 days, then resolve on their own. Children 4 years and older can have over-the-counter cold medications for symptom control. But, the medications won’t treat the virus itself. Natural remedies like nasal saline flushes, blowing the nose, a cool mist humidifier, or steamy shower can help keep your child comfortable while his body fights the virus. I usually rely on these natural treatments for my kids, instead of cough medications.
Viruses
Besides colds, there are so many viruses that your child will be exposed to in elementary school. Some of these viruses cause vomiting and diarrhea. Others cause a rash. In some cases, your child may only have a fever and no other symptoms. The list of viruses is so long, and it’s tough to talk about every single one here. Know that most of them are harmless, and your child will fight it off on his own, as long as he has a normal immune system. Good hand washing and hygiene in general are the best ways to prevent the spread of viruses.
Any fever for longer than 4 days deserves a visit to the Pediatrician. If your child is vomiting and not holding anything down, or having so much diarrhea that you’re concerned about dehydration, he should be seen. Probiotics can be helpful for diarrhea in the short term. Have your child drink an oral electrolyte solution to prevent dehydration. Any rash that you’re worried about should be checked out. And, if your child’s behavior is just out of his norm, bring him in.
Skin infections
Your child may be exposed to a long list of skin infectious in elementary school. Some of the most common rashes include: mollusum contagiosum, ring worm, cellulitis, abscesses, and impetigo. These are all contagious. They are typically spread by skin-to-skin contact, or from infected surfaces. Skin infections can be prevented by practicing good hygiene.
Molluscum contagiousum
Molluscum is caused by a virus, and is harmless. It shows up as small, shiny bumps that look like “belly buttons”. The virus spreads pretty easily between children, but causes nothing more than the rash. It can stick around for several months before it just clears on its own. There are over-the-counter all-natural treatments for molluscum, such as Molluscum Rx. Dermatologists can also treat molluscum if necessary, but these treatments can sometimes leave scars. I usually recommend leaving the bumps alone, because they’ll clear on their own, usually without leaving any scars behind.
Ring worm
This common rash is caused by a fungus. It shows up as a circle with a raised border and flat, scaly center. Ring worm can be treated with over-the-counter anti-fungal creams, like Lotrimin.
Cellulitis/Abscesses
These are skin infections caused by bacteria – usually staph or strep. In cellulitis, the skin is red, warm, and tender. An abscess is also red, warm, and tender, but looks like a raised bump that contains pus under the skin. The best treatment for an abscess is draining the pus from under the skin. Both cellulitis and abscesses usually also require antibiotics by mouth.
Impetigo
This is another skin infection caused by a bacteria. It shows up as a rash with yellow crusting on the top. Impetigo can be treated with an antibiotic ointment, but may require antibiotics by mouth if it spreads.
Lice
If your child comes home with an itchy scalp, he should be checked for lice. Lice shows up as small eggs or bugs in the hair/scalp. It usually spreads at sleepovers, or whenever your child shares a comb, brush or hair accessories with someone who has lice. There are a few different shampoos and creams that can be used to treat lice. Most of them are applied to the hair and scalp, left on for a period of time, and rinsed out.
Bullying
Bullying (being teased or picked on) has such a huge impact of the mental health of children. It can lower their self esteem, and can lead to anxiety and depression. Many bullied children end up not wanting to go to school, and lose interest in learning. Be sure to address any bullying with the teacher, school counselor and administration. If you notice signs of anxiety or depression, reach out to a psychologist for help.
Obesity
Childhood obesity has become a major epidemic in our country. My previous post on Preventing Childhood Obesity has a lot of detail and helpful tips for you and your children. A balanced diet and exercise are so important for your child’s overall health.
Asthma/Allergies/Eczema
If your child has a frequent cough or a history of wheezing, you should have him checked out for asthma. Many babies can wheeze before age 2 and not have asthma. But if your child is older than 2 and wheezes with every cold, weather changes, or allergy flares, then asthma is likely. A child with mild asthma (with only occasional flare-ups) can just use certain breathing treatments as needed. Children with frequent symptoms will need daily medications to minimize their asthma symptoms.
Asthma is, many times, related to seasonal allergies and eczema. If your child has periods of sneezing, cough, post-nasal drip, and itchy, watery eyes, he likely has allergies. Allergy medications can be used in older children to prevent and treat their symptoms.
Eczema shows up as a dry, red, rash on the skin. Different foods, dust, grass, or trees are common triggers, but these triggers can vary from child to child. A gentle body wash and moisturizer can be used to prevent eczema. Treatments usually include specific creams applied to the skin whenever your child has a flare.
Other Breathing Problems
Besides a regular cold, your elementary-schooler can also develop lung or breathing problems like pneumonia, croup, the flu, bronchiolitis, etc. The common cold is – you guessed it – much more common. But, if you notice a harsh cough, shortness of breath, or fevers along with cold symptoms, it helps to have your child checked out by his Pediatrician. Treatments for these illnesses vary, depending how severe they are. Good hand washing and covering your cough are the best way to prevent the spread of most lung/respiratory infections.
Headaches
Children may have headaches at a younger age, but in Elementary school, they’re actually able to let us know that their head hurts. It’s common for children to complain of headaches when they’re sick or have a fever. But if your child is having frequent headaches when he’s otherwise well, he should be check out by his pediatrician, and possibly a neurologist. Pain relievers are usually used to treat headaches at this age. But, check with your pediatrician first.
Vision problems
Many vision problems can show up while your child is in elementary school. This is a big deal in the classroom, since your child may have a hard time reading or seeing their lessons on the board in school. It’s important to keep your child’s well visits, since his vision will be checked every year. If you notice a vision problem, have your child checked out by an eye doctor.
Pink eye
This is a contagious eye infection, usually cause by a virus in children. But it can sometimes be cause by a bacteria, so it’s usually treated as such. It shows up as redness of the white parts of the eyes, along with pain and yellow/green discharge. Pink eye is usually treated with a prescription antibiotic eye drop. Good hand washing is the best way to prevent pink eye.
Vaccine-preventable illnesses
Just like any other age group, it’s important for your elementary school-aged child to stay up-to-date with his vaccines. The same illnesses that can affect younger children, can also affect an unvaccinated older child. Things like tetanus, the flu, rotavirus, measles, chicken pox, meningitis, and bacteria in the blood can be prevented through vaccines. So, keep your yearly well visits, and keep your child on track with his shots.
Strep Throat
Strep throat is an infection of the throat and tonsils caused by Streptococcus Group A bacteria. Children with strep usually have a fever, sore throat, and large, red tonsils. It’s usually spread through sharing food or drinks with someone who has the infection. So, it can be prevented by teaching your children not share food or drinks with other children, and to keep their hands clean and out of their mouths! Strep in children should be treated with antibiotics to prevent long-term complications. My daughter had strep throat a few months ago and it was no fun!
There you have it! That’s my brief list of the most common illnesses I see in elementary school-aged children. Of course, always check with your Pediatrician if you’re concerned your child may have any of these. Or any that I may not have talked about above. A lot of things can be treated at home, but if you’re concerned, make the call!
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