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School just started, so why is your kid already sick?
NBC 5 Chicago • • health
Key Points:
- As children return to school, several illnesses including gastrointestinal bugs, hand, foot and mouth disease, strep throat, and mono are currently surging, according to Dr. Anita Chandra-Puri, a pediatrician at Northwestern Medicine.
- The increased exposure to germs occurs as children share classrooms and common items like crayons, pencils, and water bottles, facilitating the spread of illnesses.
- Dr. Chandra-Puri advises frequent handwashing and even changing children's clothes after school to reduce germ transmission, especially for younger kids.
- She recommends keeping children home if they have a fever or are feeling unwell, while children recovering from a lingering cough without fever may return to school.
- Flu vaccinations, typically available by August and recommended before Halloween, are crucial for reducing severe flu cases, with the 2024-25 season having a record number of pediatric flu deaths since 2007.
