The Philippine Online Chronicles

School is definitely a fun place for learning and for great social interactions. But the sheer number of people going in and out of the premises could pose a hazard in terms of the likelihood of your kids getting sick.

Here are a few common conditions that kids might get as they go through schooling. Hopefully you can pick out a few ways on treatment and most importantly prevention should any of these diseases strike any child or anyone in your immediate family.

Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)

This term is a fancy way of saying the common cold. Upper respiratory tract infection is easily the most common type of infection in the world and most kids would have this at least a couple of times while growing up. The upper respiratory tract includes the mucosa or the internal lining of the nostrils, the back of the throat or the pharynx, the voice box or the larynx, the windpipe or the trachea and the first-level split of the trachea called the bronchus. This is the entire anatomical road map of sorts that the air that we breathe in takes before reaching our lungs – the lower respiratory tract.

The reason why URTI is so common is because it is caused by so many pathogens (just another term for microbes, viruses and other irritants that could cause diseases). The moistness of the surfaces involved makes them suitable breeding grounds and colonies of bacteria, viruses or even fungi.

Once someone coughs, small droplets of fluid rife with disease-causing microbes are suspended in the air. These bits are so small that they can stay longer in the air and surfaces, making those who pass through the area or hold on to certain things vulnerable to getting an infection. The severity of the infection depends on the kind of pathogen, the general state of health of the individual and the extent that the pathogen spreads within the body.

Most upper respiratory tract infections would usually present with cough, headaches, runny nose, signs of nasal congestion, ear fullness and even low-grade fever from time to time. Due to the inherent connections between the ears and the respiratory system, an infection in the upper respiratory tract could also end up spreading to the auditory canal causing a very uncomfortable ear condition called otitis or inflammation of the ear.

These infections rarely last for over a week and most would just resolve on their own. Viral infections of this nature are commonly termed as self-limiting - the patient would get better despite the absence of definitive treatment.

What is emphasized is the need for supportive care. Patients that have fever could improve by giving them a tepid sponge bath. They are usually ordered to increase their oral intake of water to help the body cool down and fight off the infection. Paracetamol formulated for children could also be used to alleviate fever. The dosing is different for children so do not give young patients drugs that are meant for adults.

Using antibiotics very early in the disease process could actually do more harm than good. Since the infection is bound to resolve by itself anyway, all the antibiotic does is building resistance of other pathogens that may be around for the party. This is never good since resistance to a drug would render an antibiotic useless for future treatments. Be very responsible in the use of antibiotics. Ideally, it should never be used unless prescribed by a licensed physician.

Since the pathogens could be spread through coughing and hand contact, children must be reminded to always cover their mouths with a hanky when they sneeze and routinely disinfect their hands by hand-washing. Through these measures, it would be easier to reduce the risk of infection.

The dreaded flu

The flu or influenza is caused by a virus that is easily transmitted by those who have the disease. That is why if one child goes to school with a flu infection, it usually follows that a lot of the kids in the same classroom end up getting sick in the same way. The symptoms of the flu are similar to upper respiratory tract infection.  There usually is fever accompanied by an assortment of symptoms including but not limited to nasal congestion, coughing, lack of appetite as well as muscle aches.

The severity of a flu infection varies, but the garden type variety rarely lasts over a week. Due to the nature of the virus causing the disease, the use of antibiotics in case of the flu can also be a very dangerous thing as far as the building of resistance is concerned.

The management of the flu at home is very similar to how upper respiratory tract infection cases are to be handled. Increase the child’s oral water intake to allow the body to be more efficient in its process to fight off the infection. Keep the child well-fed and rested. Again, medication like paracetamol could be used to bring down fever and relieve some of the associated muscle pain that comes with the condition.

There are vaccines that are available for the common flu and it is recommended to have it once a year. A new vaccine is developed annually because the virus mutates rapidly in between flu seasons.

Sore eyes

Having pus oozing out of one’s eye lids could seem like a very harrowing experience but in reality, it really looks worse than it actually is. The condition known as sore eyes is called conjunctivitis in doctor-speak. It is mainly an infection and inflammation of conjunctivae - the lining of the eye and the inner part of the eyelids.

There are different causes of conjunctivitis. They could be allergic, bacterial, viral or even chemical. More often than not, these infections resolve within 2-5 days. Since the eyes are a very vital organ and any damage to them may have life-long complications, it is best to just take your child to the ophthalmologist to ensure that the proper management of the disease is observed.

During the interim, make sure that the child does not rub his or her eyes. Doing so will just worsen the irritation. Physical manipulation of the eyes could also result to damage to the very sensitive membranes like the cornea. Cold compress may be applied to the affected area to lessen the inflammation. Bringing down the temperature of an inflamed area would constrict the blood vessels and reduce swelling.

Again, hand-washing is a must in the prevention of this infection. Teaching your kids not to touch or rub their eyes would also be a good thing.

Measles

The rashes that measles (“tigdas” in local parlance) patients have may be the first thing that comes to mind but measles is still a respiratory tract infection. It is very infectious so most are advised to have their children vaccinated against the disease. Vaccination against this disease is usually covered by the MMR vaccine that has become mandatory for most healthcare systems around the world.

There is no definitive treatment for measles but much care must be observed should any life-threatening conditions arise from the initial infection. Just like most of the other diseases on this list, supportive care is needed to ensure that the child could bounce back against the immediate symptoms of the disease. This includes the increasing of oral fluid intake, tepid sponge baths and acetaminophen to control fever and bed rest.

Mumps

Mumps is caused by exposure to infection secretions of a patient. The virus that causes mumps makes the salivary glands swell up creating discomfort when chewing and moving one’s neck from side to side. The swelling could get so severe that an obvious physical deformity may be apparent from the exterior.

Mumps is also associated with headache, fever and in orchitis (or inflammation of the testicles) in males. This is something that is seen more commonly in males who are infected after puberty.

The mumps vaccine is also integrated in the MMR vaccine so the prevalence of the disease has significantly dropped in countries that have made it a policy to immunize against the disease. Just like most of the diseases on this list, the illness is self-limiting and would definitely resolve within a few days.

As a precaution however, it is best to ensure that the salivary glands are not stimulated to secrete saliva. Giving a mumps patient an acidic or sour dish/ drink may trigger the glands to work on overdrive thus creating a very uncomfortable sensation.

General care guidelines

Even with care and the right amount of precaution, children can still get sick so be aware of the things that you can do as a parent to address the situation.

Do not hesitate to go to a medical professional such as a pediatrician or family medicine expert should the symptoms worsen or persist.

Again, do not use antibiotics unless prescribed by a health professional.

Teach your kids to wash their hands as often as possible to ensure that the transfer of germs is limited.

Never send your kid to school when they are obviously sick. This would not only endanger the other kids – the child’s weakened immune system at such a time of sickness would also make your child more susceptible to picking up more diseases in the environment that could lead to complications like pneumonia and similar serious infections.

Strengthen your child’s immune system by feeding them a well-balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, and by providing them adequate time for play, rest, and sleep.

Photo: "First day of school" by antjeverena c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved.