Back-to-School Sickness and How to Keep Your Kids Healthy

Every fall, the same thing happens — kids head back to class, and within a couple of weeks the coughs, colds, and stomach bugs start making the rounds. Back-to-school sickness is one of the most predictable patterns we see, and while you can't keep your kids in a bubble, you can cut down on how often illness runs through your house. Here's what tends to spread this time of year and the simple habits that make the biggest difference.

What's going around at school right now?

The classic back-to-school lineup shows up like clockwork: common colds, sore throats, hand-foot-and-mouth in younger kids, the first wave of stomach bugs, and — a little later in the season — the start of flu and RSV. Most of these are viral, spread fast in classrooms and on shared surfaces, and tend to move through a family one member at a time.

Why do kids get sick so much when school starts?

It's not your imagination. Put a few dozen kids in one room, add shared desks, supplies, and lunch tables, and you've built a nearly perfect environment for germs to spread. Younger kids especially touch everything and haven't mastered handwashing yet. On top of that, summer schedules throw off sleep, and a run-down body is easier for a virus to catch. The good news: the same things that make school germy also respond well to a few consistent habits.

How can I keep my kids healthy this school year?

You don't need a complicated system. A handful of everyday habits do most of the heavy lifting:

•    Handwashing that actually works — 20 seconds with soap, especially before eating and after the bathroom. The "sing a song" trick works great for little ones.

•    Consistent sleep — well-rested kids fight off illness better. Get bedtimes back on a school schedule before day one if you can.

•    Skip the shared drinks and utensils — an easy one that stops a lot of household spread.

•    Keep water bottles filled — staying hydrated supports the whole system.

•    Stock a simple sick kit at home — a thermometer, children's fever reducer, and fluids, so you're not scrambling at 9pm.

•    Stay current on recommended vaccines and flu shots — talk to your provider about timing before the season peaks.

When should I keep my sick kid home?

A good rule of thumb: keep them home if they have a fever of 100.4°F or higher, are vomiting or have diarrhea, or are simply too miserable to participate. Most schools ask that kids be fever-free for 24 hours — without fever-reducing medicine — before coming back. Sending a sick kid in early usually just spreads the illness, and it often bounces right back to your own house a week later.

"We're seeing a lot of upper respiratory complaints right now — congestion, cough, sore throat. Summer colds are real, and they can knock you down just like the winter ones." — Jerry Browning, NP, HealthCARE Express

When should you bring your child in?

Most back-to-school bugs run their course at home with rest and fluids. But some symptoms are worth getting checked: a fever that lasts more than a couple of days or spikes high, a sore throat with no cough (which can point to strep), an earache, trouble breathing or wheezing, signs of dehydration, or a child who just isn't bouncing back. If you're not sure, it's always okay to come in — that's exactly what we're here for. At our Texarkana, Longview, and Shreveport locations, we treat these everyday childhood illnesses seven days a week, no appointment needed. https://www.gohce.com/services/what-we-treat

When school sends home more than homework, walk into any HealthCARE Express location — no appointment needed. [Find your nearest clinic →]