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19th August 2024
12:53pm BST
Colds, coughs, stomach bugs and pink eye (conjunctivitis) are just some of the many common viruses spread at school.
If you are looking for ways to avoid your child being sick every two weeks or so from now until Christmas, then childrens.com has the answers for you.
It’s likely that the Covid-19 and flu viruses will also circulate during certain times of the year.
In addition to this, children can spread bacterial infections, including impetigo (an infection of the skin) and strep throat.
The experts say: “There's no secret formula to keep kids from getting sick, but there are steps that parents and caregivers can take to prevent illness when kids go back to school.”
Regular hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of germs and keep your child healthy.
Children (and adults) should wash their hands:
It's important to teach your child proper hand washing steps, including reminding them to do it for at least 20 seconds or as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday."
If soap and water aren't available, your child can use a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitiser to clean their hands. You could even clip a small bottle to your child's bag for easy access.
It's also important to teach your child good hygiene and show them how to properly cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow.
Other things you can do to up their immunity against all these common illnesses is:
For more information on this topic, click here.
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