The new school year begins next week, and students will be welcomed back with new teachers, classmates, and classrooms. However, with this return comes an increased risk of illness. The confined spaces of classrooms can accelerate the spread of sickness among students. Dr. Shilpa Singh, Clinical Dept. Chair for Pediatrics at Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago, would like to share the following advice for parents as to what to look for and how to prepare their kids for a safe school year:

Respiratory Viruses are most common: SV and influenza are easily transmissible and can cause a common cold. If you see your child experiencing symptoms such as a runny nose, coughing, or loss of appetite, treat it with over-the-counter fever/pain reducers and provide lots of fluids for the child to drink.

Don’t ignore a cough: If your child has a nagging cough, don’t ignore it because it could progress to pneumonia, and if a child has asthma, it can become a very serious ailment.

Clean hands: Someways to prevent the spread of sickness at school is to communicate how important it is for your child to wash their hands with soap and water and sending them with hand sanitizer will keep transmission low.

Flu vaccine: The flu shot can help keep kids healthy and fight off the sickness, and it is safe for children to take.

Sick? Stay home: If your child isn’t feeling good, it’s best to keep them home from school to keep the rest of the class healthy. Symptoms to keep your child home from school include:

• Fever

• Shortness of breath or persistent coughing

• Loss of taste or smell

• Diarrhea or vomiting

• Extreme fatigue