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Do you often feel like you are fighting a losing battle with childhood bugs? Your child's immunity is still developing and to make matters worse toddlers insist on putting everything in their mouths.
At some point in the first year of child care you will inevitably be faced with the decision of whether your child is well enough to be sent to care. So, this week we take a look at the most common bugs children come down with and ask if it is ever OK to send your kid to care when he or she is sick.
Common childhood bugs
Common cold
There are more than 200 cold-causing viruses, and young children will catch between three and 10 colds per year, so there is almost no way to escape a bout with the common cold. Symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, cough, headache and sore throat. A child is contagious for about five days. Cold germs can live on surfaces including door handles and toys, so try to reduce exposure by cleaning surfaces and teaching your child about hygiene.
Gastroenteritis
Also known as a stomach bug, 90 per cent of children will catch at least one stomach bug by the age of four. Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Children are highly infectious for as long as the symptoms exist, and the virus can remain in faeces for up to two weeks afterwards.
Influenza
Up to 40 per cent of children will catch flu each year, and can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia and other infections. Symptoms include body aches, high fever, cough, headache and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea. A child can be contagious for up to two weeks.
Pinkeye
Also known as conjunctivitis, pinkeye can spread quickly, causing a yellowish discharge in the eyes, blurry vision and redness. Children will be contagious for 24 hours after being treated. Make sure your child avoids touching his or her eyes and washes hands regularly.
Pinworms
Usually caused by poor hygiene, pinworms are small parasites that enter the digestive system and work their way down to lay eggs around the anus. In the day care environment pinworm is mostly spread by a contaminated child scratching their bottom then not washing their hands.
Symptoms include scratching the bottom or complaining of itching. Prescription or over-the-counter medication can treat the infection, and you should always wash towels and bedding in hot water following treatment.
Hand Foot and Mouth disease
A highly contagious virus, Hand Foot and Mouth disease is spread by coughs, colds and contact. Symptoms include small blisters on the feet, hands, and throat, and sometimes a fever. A child is contagious for as long as the blisters are present.
When is a child ready to return to child care?
Your child care service can advise on their own policy on when children are able to return to the classroom, but general guidelines include: no rash, vomiting, diarrhoea or temperature above 38 degrees for at least 24 hours, and the child should be eating and drinking well. If a child is sleepy or lethargic they should be seen by a doctor and then kept home until fully alert and content again. Seek medical advice if a fever goes over 38 degrees. However, if it is a baby, seek medical attention for any level of fever.
NSW Health has released a Too Sick for School guide that explains the common illnesses, symptoms and whether a child is well enough to attend school. However, the guide does not replace the advice of a doctor, so always seek medical attention if you are unsure.
What you can do
These early years are tough for working parents, and though it may be tempting to send your child off to care when there is the pressure of work, the immune system needs rest and time to fight the infection, so keeping them home until they are fully recovered is best for the child.
Talk to your employer about flexible working or working from home whilst your child is sick.
Though it is impossible to fully protect a child from catching winter bugs, practicing good hygiene can help prevent many infections.
- Teach your child to always wash his or her hands after using the bathroom and before meals or using shared toys.
- Keep wipes or hand sanitiser in your bag, for when you are out and about.
- Regularly clean any toys in hot soapy water.
- Don't share utensils, cups or towels, even between family members.
- Teach your child to sneeze into their elbow or into a tissue.
- Avoid shared toys, particularly in doctor's waiting rooms.
Remember, the CareforKids.com.au Emergency Care Program offers an excellent backup when your child is too sick for care and you must go to work. Our network of screened and experienced carers can step in at short notice and ensure your child receives the rest and recuperation required to make a full recovery.
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