of prevention
There is a group of diseases that increase in prevalence during the school season among children, as they are easily transmitted through infection. Learn about them in this article.
The chances of contracting diseases increase during the school season, and therefore the necessary precautions must be taken to protect the child from common infectious diseases that are easily transmitted from one child to another.
Reasons for the spread of infection in schools
There are several reasons that lead to the spread of infection in schools, which are
Accumulation of students in one place: The greater the number of students in one class, the greater the chances of infection spreading and the transmission of bacteria and viruses, especially with lack of ventilation while feeling cold.
Touching surfaces and touching the face: Children usually touch various surfaces at school, whether their desks, handles, faucets, etc., which can easily transfer germs and infections to them.
Air dryness: Air dryness increases in the winter season, which increases the chances of contracting diseases, especially with the increase in the number of students and their decreased immunity.
What are the most common diseases in schools?
Here are the most prominent diseases that spread in schools
1- Cold
The common cold is easy to spread in schools, and is accompanied by a group of symptoms such as sneezing, sore throat, headache, and cough. The child may also suffer from a runny nose and fever depending on the severity of the condition.
If the fever persists for more than 5 days or nausea and diarrhea occur, this means the condition has progressed and there may be complications such as pneumonia.
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To treat colds, it is recommended to drink warm fluids and get rest to speed up recovery.
2- Influenza
Influenza is considered one of the most common diseases among children in schools, and it is more difficult than the common cold, as it is accompanied by body aches, chills, headache, sore throat, and cough, in addition to a high temperature.
Some other symptoms may appear, such as vomiting and diarrhea.
The influenza patient needs to rest and drink warm fluids, in addition to foods that enhance the functioning of the immune system, in addition to the medications prescribed by the doctor.
3- Pink eyes
Pink eye disease is easily transmitted from one child to another, as it is a contagious viral disease, usually associated with allergies, and leads to eye irritation and sensitivity to light with eye swelling and tearing.
To treat pink eye disease, antibiotic eye s are prescribed to eliminate the virus.
4- Chicken pox
Chickenpox is one of the diseases that spread in schools, especially in the spring season.
It is a contagious disease accompanied by a group of flu-like symptoms, along with fever and fatigue. Then, red pimples begin to appear on the skin in various areas of the body, causing itching. They are then covered by crusts and begin to spread at the end of the disease stage.
Chickenpox requires complete rest and isolation for the patient to prevent the spread of infection, along with the use of a skin conditioner to reduce the feeling of itching. The disease usually disappears two weeks after its appearance.
5- Measles
Measles also spreads during the school season. It is an infectious disease caused by the measles virus. It appears in the form of a skin rash and white spots inside the mouth, and may lead to serious complications such as sore throat, pneumonia, and encephalitis.
It is necessary to stay at home during the infection period, as there is no cure for measles, but compresses must be applied in the event of a high temperature, and sometimes the child needs an antibiotic to treat complications of the disease.
6- Head lice
They are small insects that multiply quickly and feed on the blood present in the scalp. Lice is easily transmitted from one child to another, as it grows quickly, causes itching, and takes time to eliminate.
Some topical medications help treat head lice until it is completely eliminated.
Ways to prevent school diseases
Some methods help prevent diseases that spread during the school season, and they are
Obtaining the necessary vaccines: Although they do not completely prevent diseases, vaccines reduce the chances of contracting them, such as the influenza vaccine, measles vaccine, and smallpox vaccine.
Personal hygiene: It is necessary for the child to get used to paying attention to his personal hygiene and washing his hands well before eating and after touching any surface at school, while warning him not to put his hands on his face to prevent any infection from being transmitted to him.
Hair hygiene: Attention must be paid to the cleanliness of children’s hair to protect them from head lice. It is preferable to tie children’s hair so that it is not easy for the insects to move from one hair to another.
Eating healthy food: Healthy, balanced food and drinking water play a major role in preventing various diseases, as it enhances the health of the immune system and its functions in fighting infection. Exercising is also important to maintain the child’s health and protect him from diseases.
Not sharing personal tools: One of the important things that a child must be warned about is sharing personal tools with others or using another child’s tools, as this could expose him to infectious diseases.
