Guide to the Most Common Children’s Illnesses

There are few things worse than a sick child, but try as you might, when your child attends school with other children every day, germs are bound to be passed around. Instead of fretting over what might happen, take a moment to read through this list of the most common illnesses your child is likely to pick up and learn how to spot and treat them so that your child can recover quickly without spreading his illness to other students.The Common ColdOften manifesting in a runny nose, congestion, sneezing, coughing, or a sore throat, a cold can last anywhere from three to seven days, but if your child has no fever and feels up to it, he should still go to school, and shouldn’t see a doctor unless symptoms worsen. At home, make sure they drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest so that their body can do what it naturally does – get better.Fifth DiseaseThis illness is typically identified by a lacy red rash that will look similar to a slapped cheek and a low-grade fever. Since it is only contagious before the rash appears, if your child feels up to it, she should still go to school. The rash may linger for up to 10 days before going away, but symptoms are usually mild and can typically be treated with over-the-counter pain medicine.Stomach Flu (Gastroenteritis)When it comes to the notorious “flu bug” that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and fever, keep kids out of school for at least 24 hours after vomiting has subsisted. This illness can run anywhere from a couple of days to over a week, but once your child is feeling better she’s not likely to be contagious. Keep fluids in your child as much as possible with frequent sips of water or diluted juice. Make sure to take your child to the doctor if she or he is showing signs of dehydration. Strep ThroatStrep can be recognized from symptoms of fever, sore throat, swollen, red, inflamed tonsils with white patches, inflamed taste buds, loss of appetite, nausea, rash, and muscle or joint aches. Keep your child away from school, as he or she is contagious as long as symptoms are present. See your doctor right away if you suspect your child has strep or has been near a child with strep. Typically, with antibiotics, your child should be better within one to two days and can go back to school after 24 hours.FluHigh fever, exhaustion, sore throat, cough, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are all symptoms identifying the flu. Once your child’s fever breaks, you can send him or her back to school after 24 hours. Fevers typically last two to four days, but it might take your child upwards of two weeks to fully recover. Your child is also considered contagious for up to seven days after initial symptoms start appearing. Give your child Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for her fever, and make sure she get lots of rest and fluids. See your doctor if your child experiences extreme symptoms, has a hard time breathing, or is dehydrated. Pink EyePink eye tends to be an obvious illness to identify, thanks to its physical manifestation of its namesake. However, there are two types of pink eye: viral, which is most common and manifests in watery, itchy, light-sensitivity, and bacteria, which causes the eye to become red, swollen, and have thick, sticky yellow or greenish yellow discharge. It is highly contagious, and you should keep your child at home for the first 24 or 48 hours, or as long as there is discharge. If you aren’t sure what type of pink eye your child has, see your doctor. You’ll want to treat pink eye at home, but see your doctor for eye drops and antibiotics to help the recovery and treatment process.Children are bound to get sick now and again, but with this list of common illness signs and treatment advice, you can stay on top of symptoms and recovery, and ensure that your child stays as healthy as possible, and helps keep her or his classmates healthy by preventing contagions, too. For any sign or symptom that you’re unsure of, make sure to schedule an appointment with a doctor!Common Illnesses in Orlando Catholic High School StudentsThe Orlando Catholic school's blog page has helpful hints for parents to encourage their children to excel academically, spiritually, and socially. To learn more about Catholic schools in Orlando, contact us at 407-246-4800.