Back-to-school means new notebooks, new friends, and – unfortunately – new germs. Most contagious illnesses that rear their heads in the back-to-school season are serious, and it’s important to know what your child might be contending with. We consulted Dr. Pieter Kersemakers, general practitioner and clinic doctor at International SOS Clinic, and Dr. Joseph Donroe, a pediatrician at Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU), for information on some of the most common contagious illnesses that children can get and what to do about them.
The Common Cold
Though common, the cold is a royal pain. Runny nose, cough, fever, sore throat, and nasal congestion are all symptoms of the common cold. The cold is actually many kinds of viruses, which cannot be treated with antibiotics, so treatments are designed to alleviate symptoms until they naturally abate, not cure them.
For relief, your child can take an over-the-counter pain and fever relievers, and Dr. Kersemakers recommends a decongestive nose spray to open the Eustachian tube in the middle ear. If your child is coughing because of a cold or upper respiratory infection, cough medicine is not particularly effective, says Dr. Donroe. Instead, for children over 1 year of age, he recommends “a teaspoon of honey before bedtime,” which is more useful than cough medicine. And don’t forget to brush your teeth after the spoonful.
Monitor your child’s cold. “If the temperature stays higher than 38.5ºC for more than three days, that is a sign that something is going
on that is not normal for a common cold,” says Dr. Kersemakers. If the fever persists and your child is not as alert as usual, take them to a doctor.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
“This year we’ve seen a particularly high number of cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease,” says Dr. Donroe, “but it’s typically a very self-limited disease. Kids usually recover on their own after a few days.” This virus is characterized by a fever and little blisters in the mouth and on the hands and feet.
Due to pain from blisters, children may not want to eat or drink, so it is important to keep the child hydrated and fed. A pain reliever will ease the fever and pain, and Dr. Kersemakers recommends diaper cream or zinc ointment to help the blisters dry quicker. While hand, foot, and mouth disease may not be dangerous, it is still very contagious, so keep an infected child at home, away from school or daycare.
Meningitis
While not common, meningitis is every parent’s nightmare. An inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, meningitis moves swiftly and is quite serious. Symptoms include high fever, lethargy, headache, and sensitivity to light.
The two telltale signs of meningitis are severe neck pain or stiffness and a distinctive skin rash. According to Dr. Kersemakers, “A meningitis rash is a hemorrhage. If you see little red spots that don’t disappear with pressure, go to a doctor immediately, especially if the child is severely ill.” The rash can occur on any part of the body, so if your child exhibits meningitis symptoms, check their body for signs of a rash.
The other symptom of meningitis is neck pain. With infants, Dr. Kersemakers says, you can tell if they have neck pain by laying them on their back and lifting their legs like you’re changing a diaper. If an older child has severe neck pain to the point that moving or lifting their head is excruciating, see a doctor.
Meningitis, which can be viral or bacterial and is spread by contact.It is diagnosed with a lumbar puncture, done by inserting a needle in the lower back and testing spinal fluid. Some meningitis can be treated, but time is very valuable. “The best way to avoid getting meningitis is to get vaccinated,” says Dr. Donroe, “so get your vaccines according to the recommended pediatric vaccine schedule.”
Lice
Although not the most serious of conditions, lice may be the most irritating. These are tiny insects that live on the human scalp. Spread by contact, either head-to-head or through hairbrushes, hats, or hair ties, lice make the scalp itch. Though there are insecticidal treatments for lice, the medication seems to be discontinued in China, though the BJU pharmacy offers a traditional Chinese herbal treatment for lice. However, Dr. Kersemakers says that there is strong evidence to show that combing alone is an effective treatment. Using a very fine, specialized comb available at pharmacies, comb the hair twice a day for two weeks to remove the lice and their eggs.
If your child has lice, wash everything, especially bedsheets, in hot water. Stuffed animals should also be washed in hot water or stored in a tightly-sealed plastic bag for seven days.
Strep Throat and Scarlet Fever
Strep throat and scarlet fever are caused by the same bacteria, so symptoms are the same: fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. Combined with what Dr. Donroe calls a “sandpaper rash” (a very fine, bumpy rash)and red spots on the tongue, it is likely scarlet fever. Without the rash, it could be strep. Strep is easily diagnosed with a quick throat swab. Scarlet fever and some forms of strep can be treated with antibiotics. Dr. Donroe says that while strep usually gets better on its own, “We give antibiotics to prevent some of the complications that can happen later on, like rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.”
Both doctors agree that the key to avoid catching contagious illnesses is through good hand hygiene. When coughing, a child (or adult) should cover his mouth with his elbow, not his hands. The most important key to staying healthy is frequent hand washing. Encourage your kids to always use soap and water to keep their hands clean.
Resources
Beijing United Family Hospital 北京和睦家医院
Mon-Sun 8.30am-5.30pm. 24-hour emergency care. 2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District (5927 7000, 5927 7120 ER) www.ufh.com.cn 朝阳区将台路2号
Beijing United Family Clinics
1) Mon-Fri 9.30am-7.30pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-4.30pm. 818, Pinnacle Plaza, Tianzhu Real Estate Development Zone, Shunyi District (8046 5432) www.ufh.com.cn 顺义区天竺房地产开发区日荣祥广场818号; 2) Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm. DRC, Liangma Qiao, Chaoyang District (5927 7005) www.ufh.com.cn 朝阳区亮马桥外交公寓; 3) Mon-Sun 8.30am-3.30pm. St. Regis Wellness Center, B1/F, 21 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (8532 1678) www.ufh.com.cn 朝阳区建国门外大街21号国际俱乐部饭店地下1层
Beijing International SOS Clinic 北京国际救援中心
Mon-Sun 9am-6pm. Suite 105, Wing 1, Kunsha Building, 16 Xinuanli, Chaoyang District (Clinic: 6462 912, 24-hour hotline 6462 9100, china.inquiries@internationalsos.com) www.internationalsos.com, www.clinicsinchina.com 朝阳区新源里16号琨沙中1座105室
Kids Health
kidshealth.org
Meningitis Research Foundation
www.meningitis.org
This article is excerpted from beijingkids September 2012 issue. View it in PDF form here or contact distribution@beijing-kids.com to find out where you can pick up your free copy.
