It's back to school for cough and cold

Though the back-to-school rush has started to die down, the new term seems to have brought with it an increase in coughs, colds, fevers and runny noses across the UAE.
As students spend more time together in close proximity, they become exposed to different types of germs. As they touch, play and eat from shared surfaces, it usually results in an increased chance of illness.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, general practitioner at Dubai's Prime Medical Centre, Dr Maria Sagun Magallanes, recommended that parents keep sick children at home until they're recovered enough to go back to school. This is typically about 24 hours, depending on symptoms.
"If it is viral, we advise they do not go to school or nursery. Keep them rested, give them plenty of fluids including water and warm soups and keep a check on their temperature," she said.
But if their fever is really high, parents should seek medical advice so as to determine if the illness is viral or bacterial.
"When kids go back to school, we sometimes see an increase in visits to our centres as kids are exposed to more germs. It is not uncommon. If the temperature rises above 37.8 (degree Celsius), then you should visit your doctor."
Indian expatriate Veenu Kanwar is one parent who recently dealt with the back-to-school sickness spurt. "My son Aadi and I both came down with viral flu last week, but we are on the mend now."
Taking plenty of rest, she said she was not "unduly worried" about it as it usually rears its head at the same time every year.
"This is a seasonal problem every year. After the summer, people come back from different parts of the world and bring back infections hidden in the baggage. Unless I see symptoms that are out of place, I do not worry much."
Suffering from the usual symptoms including sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, heaviness in the head, body pain and fatigue, Kanwar said in her experience "rest is the best remedy".
"Personally I would rather wait a bit and see if the symptoms relent before seeking medical advice." Calling the flu "more irritating and troublesome than dangerous", Kanwar said she was not the only parent left caring for her child after the return to school.
"Many kids in Aadi's class were down, so were many people at my work. The central A/C system is a big factor in spreading the virus too."
Dr Magallanes said Prime Medical Centre has not yet reported a rise in the number of schoolchildren visiting the centre but said parents can look for a few key symptoms that indicate if their child is too ill for school or contagious to their classmates.
"A temperature of 37.8 degrees or more, vomiting or diarrhoea, a persistent hacking cough or conjunctivitis are all signs to look out for." - kelly@khaleejtimes.com

WHAT TO LOOK  OUT FOR
> A temperature of 37.8 degree Celsius or more
> Vomiting or diarrhoea
> Persistent hacking cough
> Conjunctivitis