“How can a young child know not to sneeze on someone if often adults can’t catch a sneeze in time,” said Eva Mayer, MD, Community Health Pediatrician. “Germs are microscopic, and a single sneeze can spray germs in a six-foot arc – not to mention coughing, even singing, yelling and sharing drinks.”
Once school starts the most of what we see are the viruses that trigger “the common cold” which are difficult to test for in an office setting. We still need to be diligent about flu, RSV and Covid.
Parents should know, children can get up to 8-10 viruses a year. If the cough and congestion can last 1-2 weeks for each cold, this literally translates to over 100 days of symptoms. Pediatricians know that a child can’t be out of school this much!
So, how to you decide when to go see your pediatrician? How do you know if it is a worse infection? A tip Dr. Mayer tells parents is “Go by how your child is acting.”
“If your child wakes up happy and isn’t having a constant cough or fever, if they are playful, eating and had a good night’s sleep, they are not likely to have anything more dangerous or need more of a workup,” she said.
How you can prevent your child from getting sick
We can’t keep our children in a bubble, but here are ways to help keep their immune systems as healthy and strong as they can be:
- Pack a lunch that is healthier to get the four food groups in there.
- Keep active. (We sit at work and school a lot.)
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Don’t share drinks with other kids.
- Be sure all vaccinations are up to date.
- Be aware that in school, everyone is face to face, within six feet of each other, so that’s why back to school equals lots of germs.
Sing happy birthday twice!
Hand washing is paramount and teaching kids to wash their hands is key. Hum the “happy birthday song twice” while you are scrubbing your hands with soap. Dr. Mayer said this gives the average person 20 seconds of hand washing. “This goes for older kids too. Hand sanitizer is fine, but I recommend using soap and water,” she said.
Of course, the greatest back to school challenge is that it’s going to be flu and RSV season soon, and Covid has been recurring as well.
“I don’t want parents to forget that flu and RSV actually cause more morbidity especially in the younger children typically than Covid,” said Dr. Mayer. “There are lots of news stories about Covid and it’s good to be diligent and get immunized, but a flu shot each fall remains very important.”
Immunizations for flu, RSV and Covid are important
“The vaccines for children program in Vermont is excellent,” Dr. Mayer said. “That includes flu shots. It’s definitely something I counsel parents to consider.”
During her 20-year career as a pediatrician Dr. Mayer has seen the illnesses vaccinations were developed to prevent. “The side effects from these shots are negligent,” she said. “I’ve never seen anaphylaxis with the immunizations, not once in my career. I really believe in them and trust them. Getting the shot means your child may not have to go to the hospital or have a higher fever or a longer course of Covid or flu than if they didn’t get immunized.”
Dr. Mayer said if a child was born very premature or born with congenital heart disease or congenital lung disease, they should be asking their doctor if their child qualifies for the special RSV preventive shot which is a vaccination.
Covid heightened questioning and uncertainty about immunizations. For children, Dr. Mayer said routine immunizations are so very important and many are required for entry to school.
“I always refer parents to the CDC website for immunization information, but I also talk to the parents about Covid. At well child visits we are discussing the immunizations that a child might need for entrance to kindergarten,” she said. “I would also encourage good communication with the school, teachers and the school nurses.”
The State of Vermont immunizations requirements for the school year 2023-24 can be found on the Department of Health website.
Transition from home to school
The transition from summer vacation to school can cause separation anxiety for children, and Dr. Mayer said since the pandemic, separation anxiety has definitely increased. “Some kids went to cyber school and completely had virtual learning. They got used to being home with mom and dad,” she said.
Parents can help a child through separation anxiety or general anxiety by talking to your child at their level, reading books or using other resources suggested by a pediatrician or behavioral health provider. Dr. Mayer said she suggests apps that parents can use with their children to help with behavioral issues. One free one is Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame Street. The bilingual app is described as “playful interaction” to help a Sesame Street monster friend take deep breaths, calm down and solve everyday challenges.
Watch for signs of bullying
The impact of social media is another challenge parents and children face. “I always tell parents to watch for behavioral changes at home, whether it’s acting out, anger outbursts, tantrums for no reason, and more anger than sadness,” she said.
Not every child who is being bullied will tell parents. Unlike an adult, kids aren’t able to come home and express that someone was being mean to them. Parents should watch for behavioral changes, trouble sleeping, changes in appetite or stress eating. It’s always a good option to call your pediatrician where your child can be screened for certain behavioral health issues.
Community Health pediatric patients can also be referred to Community Health behavioral health providers for psychotherapy or psychiatric care. “General depression, sadness, separation anxiety can occur going back to school,” said Dr. Mayer. “I have also helped families with attention deficit and other disorders. We counsel all that in conjunction with the Community Health Behavioral Health providers.”
There’s a website with back-to-school tips
Dr. Mayer suggests a great reference for parents of children of all ages is healthychildren.org, a site that is kept updated with articles, blogs and webinars by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Their back-to-school tips range from making the first day easier, backpack safety, taking the school bus to building good homework habits.
Eva Mayer, MD joined Community Health Pediatrics from St. Luke’s University Hospital Network in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where she was named 2017 Physician of the Year. She’s a graduate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Pediatric Residency Program.
Dr. Mayer is now part of the team of primary care providers at Community Health Pediatrics in Rutland dedicated to helping keep kids healthy.
Community Health is Vermont’s largest FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center), a network of primary care, pediatric, behavioral health, dental and pharmacy services with offices in Rutland, Brandon, Castleton, West Pawlet and Shoreham. Community Dental offices are located in Rutland and Shoreham; Community Health Pediatrics are in Rutland; and Behavioral Health services are available at all of our locations. Community Health Express Care centers, open 7 days a week, are located at the Rutland and Castleton Community Health Centers.
Learn more about career opportunities, hours and Community Health locations on our website, chcrr.org. If you have questions or need to schedule a pediatric appointment call 802-773-9131.
To reach Community Health’s Patient Access Center, call 802-779-9169.
