Infectious Diseases in School Age and Prevention Methods
School-aged children are at risk of contracting infectious diseases as they spend more time in social settings. Crowded classrooms, shared spaces, and inadequate adherence to hygiene rules can cause microorganisms to spread rapidly.
What Are the Infectious Diseases in School Age?
Since children's immune systems are more sensitive compared to adults, they are more vulnerable to infections. The most common infectious diseases seen in schools are as follows:
1. Influenza and Common Cold
- What causes it? Influenza is caused by the influenza virus; the common cold is caused by different types of viruses.
- How does it spread? It spreads through coughing, sneezing, and touching infected surfaces.
- Prevention methods: Pay attention to hygiene rules, wash hands frequently, avoid close contact with sick people, and get vaccinated.
2. Chickenpox (Varicella)
- What causes it? It develops due to the varicella-zoster virus.
- How does it spread? It spreads through sneezing, coughing, and contact with the body fluids of an infected person.
- Prevention methods: The chickenpox vaccine is the most effective protection method.
3. Measles
- What causes it? Triggered by viruses belonging to the paramyxovirus family.
- How does it spread? It easily spreads through the air.
- Prevention methods: Protection can be achieved with the measles vaccine (MMR vaccine).
4. Rubella
- What causes it? It is transmitted by the rubella virus.
- How does it spread? It spreads through contact with respiratory secretions of infected individuals.
- Prevention methods: Vaccination is the most important prevention method.
5. Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- What causes it? It is caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium.
- How does it spread? It spreads through coughing and sneezing.
- Prevention methods: The vaccine provides the strongest protection against the disease.
6. Mumps
- What causes it? It is caused by a virus belonging to the paramyxovirus family.
- How does it spread? It spreads through the droplets of saliva from an infected person.
- Prevention methods: It is important to get the MMR vaccine.
7. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
- What causes it? It is a disease caused by the Coxsackie virus.
- How does it spread? It spreads through saliva, nasal secretions, feces, and contact.
- Prevention methods: Attention must be paid to hygiene rules.
8. Streptococcal Infections (Beta Microbe)
- What causes it? It develops due to Group A streptococcal bacteria.
- How does it spread? It can spread through the respiratory route or direct contact.
- Prevention methods: Limit contact with infected individuals and pay attention to hand hygiene.
What Are the Symptoms of Diseases Seen in School Age?
The symptoms of infectious diseases may vary depending on the type of infection. However, the most common symptoms are:
- Fever: Body temperature rises as a defense mechanism in most infectious diseases.
- Cough and Sneezing: Respiratory complaints are common in diseases like the flu, pertussis, and measles.
- Runny or Blocked Nose: This is frequently seen in the common cold and flu.
- Rashes: Red rashes may appear on the body in diseases like chickenpox, measles, and rubella.
- Sore Throat: Often seen in infections like beta microbe and pertussis.
- Stomach Pain and Diarrhea: Intestinal infections, hand-foot-mouth disease, and some viral infections may manifest with stomach pain.
- Headache and Fatigue: Children’s energy levels may drop and they may feel sleepy in most viral infections.
Treatment of Diseases Seen in School Age
Different treatment methods are applied for each infectious disease. However, the following steps can generally be followed:
1. Rest and Nutrition
It's important to consume plenty of fluids and eat healthily to strengthen the immune system.
2. Medication
Antibiotics recommended by a doctor can be used for bacterial infections. However, viral infections generally resolve on their own, with supportive treatments applied.
3. Protection with Vaccinations
Vaccines are the most effective method to prevent many infectious diseases. Children's vaccination schedules should be regularly followed, especially against diseases like flu, measles, mumps, and rubella.
4. Adherence to Hygiene Rules
Children washing their hands frequently, not sharing personal items, and paying attention to measures like wearing masks reduce the risk of infection.
5. Precautions That Can Be Taken in the School Environment
- Not sending sick children to school
- Regular disinfection of shared spaces
- Frequent ventilation of classrooms
- School management promoting adherence to hygiene rules
Be Conscious of Infectious Diseases in School Age!
It is crucial for children to avoid diseases to grow and develop healthily. Without early precautions, infectious diseases in school age can lead to serious health issues. Therefore, parents and teachers should pay attention to hygiene rules, monitor children's vaccinations, and direct children showing symptoms of disease to a healthcare facility without delay. Let's act consciously together to create a healthy school environment!
Effective Protection Against Infections with School Family Cooperation
One of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among school-aged children is the cooperation between school management and families. In rapidly spreading infections like flu and cold, having sick students stay at home to rest helps protect their health and reduces the risk of spreading it to classmates.
Parents regularly checking their children's vaccination schedules provides protection against serious diseases like chickenpox, measles, rubella, pertussis, and mumps. Families should also teach their children basic hygiene rules such as hand washing, using tissues, and not sharing personal items, and ensure these habits become part of daily life.
School management can create a healthy environment by taking precautions such as ventilating classrooms, frequent disinfection of surfaces, and providing information during disease periods. Thus, the spread rates of many diseases, from flu to measles, from pertussis to mumps, can be reduced.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between flu and common cold?
Flu usually involves high fever, muscle aches, and prolonged fatigue, while the common cold involves milder symptoms. Both are virus-related, but the flu can be more severe and lead to serious complications, especially in children.
Can a child who has received the chickenpox vaccine still get the disease?
Vaccinated children may rarely still get chickenpox, but in such cases, the disease is much milder. The vaccine greatly reduces the risk of severe disease and complications.
Why is mumps important and should vaccination be mandatory?
Mumps can cause serious complications like testicular inflammation in older boys and carries a risk of hearing loss. Therefore, protection with the MMR vaccine is very important.
Is hand, foot, and mouth disease contagious and does it spread in school settings?
Yes, it is highly contagious. In young age groups, it can spread rapidly through saliva, feces, or nasal secretions. Therefore, attention to hygiene rules is necessary, and children showing symptoms of the disease should be kept away from school.