by Liz (mom to Sunday, pre-3s)
Our family has a special name for the play area at the mall- The Germ Tree. No matter how well we try to avoid it, inevitably the kids spot it from across the building, running and yelling, “Can we play at The Germ Tree? Please, please, please?!” Before you know it, there I am, digging through my purse for the hand sanitizer, mentally calculating the incubation time until the next viral or bacterial infection circulates through our house.
Children’s immune systems are not as mature as adults, so they’re more susceptible to germs. Sick days are expected, especially as we head into the winter months, where we spend most of our time indoors and kids are back in school. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 22 million school days are lost each year due to common colds in the United States. The number is even higher for the influenza virus.
Many parents will spend time worrying about their kids’ illnesses. We all know about the usual colds, flu (influenza), ear infections and pinkeye. But there are also some other less well known, but common, childhood illnesses.
Common illnesses* for preschoolers [click on the name for more information]
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is more common than seasonal flu; it’s so common that most children have had it by age 2. Infants under 6 months and young children with underlying conditions are most severely affected by RSV.
Fifth disease – Up to 20% of children may get the virus before age 5, and up to 60% have had it by age 19. Also known as ‘slapped cheek’, the virus begins with mild cold symptoms and a rash appears a few days later. Children are actually most contagious before the rash appears.
Roseola is a viral illness that causes a high fever, followed by a distinctive rash just as the fever breaks. There may be some lasting immunity to the virus after a single infection – repeat cases might occur, but it is not common.
Hand, Foot and Mouth disease is a viral infection that causes a fever with blisters or sores inside the mouth and on the palms and soles of the feet.
Croup is a viral illness whose main symptom is a “barking” cough, sometimes likened to the barking sound a seal. It usually begins with cold symptoms, and then evolves to inflammation of the upper airways. Symptoms are usually worse at night.
Norovirus and rotavirus are diarrheal infections that are also sometimes called the stomach flu, even though they aren’t influenza viruses. These two viruses are very contagious and the most common causes of diarrhea in children.
Strep Throat and Scarlet Fever Strep throat is most common in school-age children and teens. It is characterized by a very sore throat and usually requires antibiotics for treatment. Scarlet fever is a rash that sometimes appears with strep throat.
Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection. It is very common in young children, especially ages 2-6, and produces blisters or sores on the face, neck, hands, and diaper area.
Ringworm despite its name, ringworm is actually a fungal infection. It is contagious but also easy to diagnose and treat.
*illnesses not preventable with vaccinations
How germs spread
Germs live everywhere – on skin, hair, teeth, clothes, toys, pets, and homes. At preschool, kids are in close contact with each other and they are always exploring, often sticking fingers and objects in their mouths. Germs can spread by touching something that is contaminated, and then touching your face, especially the eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are spread through the air in sneezes and coughs and can also spread in sweat, saliva, and blood.
Prevention
We can help keep our kids healthy with a few important preventative measures.
- Stay home when you are sick and avoid close contact with people who are sick. Review the school’s sick policy for more information about when to keep your kids at home.
- Hand washing may be the single most important method for avoiding illness. Teach kids how and when to wash and then make it a habit. Use hand sanitizer if hand-washing facilities are not readily available. Click here for a good web page about hand washing.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away and then wash hands afterwards. Teach kids to blow their nose into a tissue and then keep plenty of tissues available and within reach. If a tissue is not available, teach kids to use their sleeve (toward the elbow, not into hands).
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill.
Germs are everywhere and sometimes unavoidable. With these few tried and true methods (and lots of soap), we can all do our part to keep all of our kids healthy. Even at The Germ Tree.