Infectious Diseases that Often Occur in Schools

School children often contract the disease suffered by classmates. Being together in one classroom and sitting close to a sick child makes your child more vulnerable to infectious diseases. Mother, know infectious diseases that often occur in schools and prevention so that your child is not easily sick. Children are more at risk of communicable diseases. This is because children do not yet have a strong immune system like adults. They also may not have healthy habits or should always be reminded by adults, such as washing hands before eating.

Diseases to Look Out for at School

Mother may have found your child home with a state of fever, lethargy, coughing, or complaining of a sore throat. Cough and laryngitis are indeed infectious diseases that often occur in schools, but there are several other infectious diseases that also need to be aware of, namely:

• Acute respiratory infections (ARI)

ARI is an infectious disease caused by infections in the respiratory tract that are often caused by viruses, but can also be caused by bacteria. Influenza is one of the causes of ARI. The virus that causes ARI attacks the respiratory system, so the symptoms that arise in the form of nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, and sore throat. Children will also experience high fever for several days, weakness, headaches, and muscle aches. In more severe cases, this condition can develop into pneumonia. How to treat flu is done with rest, enough to eat and drink water to prevent dehydration. Mother can provide child flu medicines that are sold in the market according to the symptoms experienced by Little. Immunization is also important as a step to prevent ARI.

• Chicken pox

Chickenpox is a contagious disease that often occurs in schools and commonly affects children under 12 years old. Chickenpox is very easily transmitted through the air (sneezing and coughing), direct contact with the patient's saliva, or fluid from smallpox lumps that rupture. This disease is characterized by fever, sore throat, dizziness, or abdominal pain followed by the appearance of skin rashes and small lumps filled with clear fluid. When contracting smallpox, Little will feel extraordinary itching. But, scratching the lump will cause a scar if infected with bacteria. Smallpox can be prevented by varicella vaccination.

• Conjunctivitis (red eye)

Red eye is a contagious disease caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Red eye occurs due to conjunctival inflammation, which is the tissue that lines the inside of the lid and the whites of the eye. Symptoms include watery eyes, pain when winking, swelling of the eyelids, itchy eyes, until pus out of the eye if caused by bacteria. Conjunctivitis due to a viral infection can heal itself. However, if due to bacteria, antibiotic treatment is required according to a doctor's prescription.

• Gastroenteritis

This infectious disease is caused by a viral infection that attacks the digestive tract. Symptoms cause diarrhea, fever, weakness, and stomach pain. Some risk factors that can cause a child to develop gastroenteritis are poor sanitation and environmental hygiene, contact with diarrhea sufferers, or consuming food and drinks that are contaminated with viruses and bacteria.

• Measles

Measles with another name rubella is also an infectious disease that often occurs in schools. This disease is caused by a viral infection, measles symptoms can include fever, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, and red eyes, and rashes appear all over the body. This disease spreads through the air, and children can get it when they breathe air near measles sufferers who are coughing or sneezing.

• Lice

Hair lice are parasites that live by sucking blood from the human scalp. Although not dangerous, head lice are very annoying because they cause itching and irritation of the scalp. Head lice are easily transmitted through contact with sufferers, such as sitting next to each other or playing with other children who have head lice. Head lice are also easy to move when sharing clothes, combs and hats, a habit that children often do at school.

• Scabies

Scabies or better known as scabies, the condition of the mites infiltrate into the outer layer of the skin. Symptoms include itching, especially at night and appear small reddish lumps. Mites that cause scabies are so small that they are invisible to the naked eye. This disease is easily transmitted through physical contact or clothing worn by patients. For example, shaking hands, hanging clothes near sufferers' clothes, or sleeping on a laying bed. No wonder scabies is a disease that often affects children who live in boarding schools.

• Ringworm

Ringworm is an infectious disease caused by fungus. Symptoms include the appearance of scaly red patches and itching. Children are prone to ringworm if they live in a humid environment, take a bath in a public bathroom, use a public swimming pool, or share equipment with other people who have ringworm. Ringworm treatment is done by applying antifungal cream.

• Mumps

Mumps are known for their swollen, neck and jaw characteristics. This condition occurs due to swollen salivary glands due to a viral infection. The virus can spread through sneezing, coughing, using alternating cutlery, or in contact with sufferers. Infectious diseases that often occur in schools are usually followed by other symptoms such as fever, weakness, loss of appetite, headaches, and muscle aches. Infectious diseases that are common in this school do not require special treatment and can be cured within a few weeks. Mumps can be prevented by MMR vaccination.

How to Prevent Disease in Communicable Diseases at School

Children are more vulnerable to contracting because they tend to make close physical contact with each other and share personal belongings with friends. So that your child does not get sick easily, do the following prevention and healthy habits:

• Teach your child proper hand washing habits.
• Give vaccinations according to schedule.
• Teach children not to share personal items with their friends. If the child lives in a dormitory, provide him with sufficient personal items, such as sheets, cutlery, and towels, so that he does not need to borrow from other children.
• Maintain the cleanliness of the home and school environment, especially food and toilet cleanliness.

When a child is exposed to an infectious disease that often appears in the school area, let him rest at home so as not to infect his classmates. If you have a cold, for example, children are advised not to go to school for at least one day until the fever subsides and symptoms improve. Give your child a balanced nutritious food, including vegetables and fruits. A healthy food menu can increase endurance so it is not easy to experience infectious diseases that often occur at school. If necessary, consult your Little One's health condition with the pediatrician.