Keeping Children Healthy During the School Yearby Myrna KleinAlmost everyone looks forward to the new school year with new clothes, new backpacks, catching up with friends—kids and parents are ready for the challenges of a brand new year. One of those challenges is preventing infectious diseases at home and at school.
How can you do this?
One way is to make sure your child’s immunizations are up-to-date. Last year in the Capital Region there were 79 cases of whooping cough. One third of the cases were in children ages 10 to 14 years, a trend continued from previous years. To check if your child’s immunizations are up to date or to get a copy of their immunization record contact your local health unit.
Another important way to prevent infectious diseases is cheap and easy, but important nonetheless. Yes, you guessed it, old-fashioned hand washing with plain soap and water. In today’s high tech world, washing hands is still the most effective way to prevent colds, influenza (flu) and many other infectious diseases. Hands should be washed before eating (even a snack), after using the toilet, after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose, after touching pets and other animals or when someone around you is ill.
Here’s how to wash your hands:
• Wet hands under running water.
• Lather with regular soap from fingertips to wrists.
• Scrub for 20 seconds.
• Rinse for 5 seconds.
• Dry hands with paper towel.
• Turn off taps with another paper towel.
Don’t use antibacterial soap as it leads to the development of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms (super bugs). Hand sanitizers with at least 60 per cent alcohol can be used instead of soap.
What else can you do to reduce the spread of germs? Teach your children to:
• Cough/sneeze into their sleeve.
• Wash hands after touching their nose.
• Throw away used tissues and then wash hands.
• Don’t share items like cups, glasses and utensils.
Using antibiotics wisely is another way of maintaining health. If you do get an infectious disease, antibiotics may be needed but remember that not all communicable diseases are created equally. Both viruses and bacteria cause infections, but antibiotics only work against bacteria.
If your doctor does prescribe an antibiotic:
• Follow your doctor’s instructions when taking antibiotics.
• Take your antibiotics at the same time every day.
• Finish all your antibiotics to kill the bacteria completely.
• Never take another person’s antibiotics.
• Do not take antibiotics for a cold or the flu, since these are viral infections that do not respond to antibiotics.
Viral infections:
• Include colds, influenza, croup, laryngitis, chest colds and most sore throats.
• Are more contagious than bacterial infections.
• Can make you just as sick as bacterial infections.
• Usually get better in 4-5 days but may take as long as 3 weeks to fully recover.
• Should be treated with good foods, rest and lots of fluids.
Bacterial Infections:
• Are less common than viral infections.
• Do not spread as easily from one person to another as viral infections.
• Cause infections such as pneumonia and strep throat.
• Can be treated with antibiotics, good food, rest and lots of fluids.
What else can you do?
Help your child to:
• Get plenty of rest. Not getting enough sleep can weaken the immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections.
• Eat healthy foods. Your body has a better chance of fighting harmful bacteria if you eat regular meals of healthy foods, such as whole grains, vegetables and fruit.
• Brush teeth and gums. Brushing teeth and gums at least twice a day helps removes bacteria.
Paying attention to the basics can go a long way to keeping you and your student healthy throughout the school year.
Other Sources of information
• Your local Health Unit
• BC Nurse Line 1-866-215-4700
• BC Health Guide on-line at
www.bchealthguide.org• Do Bugs Need Drugs Program at
www.dobugsneeddrugs.org• Health File #29 “Steps for Protection against Germs and Disease at
www.bchealthguide.org/healthfilesMyrna Klein works with Public Health Program Resource Prevention Services Child, Youth and Family Health Vancouver Island Health Authority.
