Back-to-school boo-boos, ailments to look for

Schools are a breeding ground for knowledge, learning, success ... and also pesky infections.

Back-to-school time means back to close quarters. And the more people who are indoors and in close contact with each other, the higher the chance infections will spread.

"All it takes is one kid to get sick to spread it to everyone else," said Dr. Dheeraj Taranath, regional medical director for MedExpress in Delaware.

Doctors and school nurses highly encourage parents to talk to their kids about washing their hands frequently, covering their mouth when they sneeze and not touching their face. But if that fails, here are some signs of the most common ailments and injuries you can look for as the school year kicks off:

The common cold

Pediatricians often see a rise in upper respiratory illnesses after the start of school, said Dr. Parul Singh, of Bright Start Pediatrics in Camden.

It's a bit early for flu season, but the common cold, an airborne illness, is one of the most common, she said while sniffling, as she herself is suffering from one. They are easily spread.

More than 100 viruses cause the common cold, which can be passed through air droplets. If an infected person cough, sneezes or even just talks closely to you, it's possible to get the virus. Symptoms include fever, body aches and a stuffy, runny nose.

Kids in daycare or school can have as many as eight to 12 colds a year, according to the American Academy of pediatrics.

"If someone in the daycare is sick sometimes we have the whole daycare coming to us," Singh said.

If you touch a contaminated object such as water fountain or doorknob and touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you can catch a cold too.

Washing your hands frequently is the best defense, Singh said. Wash hands in soapy water for two minutes. Parents should encourage kids to use clean tissues and avoid touching their face in school.

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Strep throat

Strep throat is one of the most important conditions to be aware of, Taranath said. It is highly contagious and can be spread through sneezing or shared food or drink — basically through infected saliva or mucus.

Caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes, strep throat causes painful swallowing, throat pain and red tonsils.

Typically it can be treated by antibiotics, but if it is missed or untreated, it can lead to kidney issues or rheumatic fever, an inflammatory condition that impacts the joints, nervous system and skin.

"That's where you have to be evaluated and get a quick strep test," Taranath said.

Pink eye

Cases of pink eye or conjunctivitis make schools on edge Taranath said, because they are so highly contagious. The recommendation is to keep kids out of school and immediately on antibiotics. Sometimes the infection will need to clear on its own, without medication, over the course of a week.

Pink eye inflammation can be caused by a virus, bacteria or allergic reaction and causes the white of the eyes to appear pink or red. Kids can experience watery or yellow-green discharge in the eye.

Pink eye caused by bacterial or viral infections, however, are more common in school, because they can be spread person-to-person and go along with a cold or other respiratory infections.

"The snot is everywhere," Taranath said.

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Sports injuries

Infections aren't the only things kids need to worry about; possible fractures, concussions and sprains from fall sports can keep a kid out of school.

A concussion can happen during a sports game, or even in the hallway if kids are not paying attention where they are going, said Becky King, a school nurse for St. Georges Technical High School.

Concussions, which occur when the brain shakes violently in the skull from an impact, cause headaches, dizziness, confusion or sensitivity to light, and blurry vision. They can keep kids out of school for days, Taranath said, so it is important to recognize the signs.

Core strength and conditioning ahead of time is also important to reduce the risk of injury, said King, so kids are not pushing themselves too hard. Conditioning ensures that they can last the whole game, she added.

"Kids should always think about safety first no matter what they are doing," King said. "Kids have no fear. They are going to get that ball no matter what. But they still have to approach it with a sense of safety."

The cool downs are just as important as the warm-up, she said, because it allows your body to return to rest and avoid injuries.

Hidden allergies

Sometimes people will mistake allergies for a cold or more serious illness, Taranath said.

A persistent cough can just mean an allergy, he said, so some children may need to start a regime on an antihistamine or another medication.

Seasonal allergies are triggered by grass, pollen and mold and cause hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Without treatment, allergy sufferers can feel like they have a constant cold.

Jen Rini can be reached at (302) 324-2386 or jrini@delawareonline.com. Follow @JenRini on Twitter.