How to Reduce Those Back-to-School Health Risks
As every parent knows, going back to school can be hazardous to your child’s health. Along with smiling teachers, new books and shiny desktops, the classroom holds the potential for catching any number of colds, flus and intestinal upsets.
Elementary school students can expect to contract about half a dozen minor illnesses between September and June. Older students going off to college for the first time also face health hazards such as weight gain and psychological stress.
Experts say there are some simple ways to reduce the back-to-school risks to health, whatever a student’s age.
For young students, improving personal hygiene habits can dramatically reduce the number of sick days, said Dr. Harris Stutman, director of pediatric infectious disease at Memorial Miller Children’s Hospital, Long Beach.
Hand-washing is the most vital habit, he said, because “most germs are spread hand-to-hand.” Encourage a child to wash hands, particularly after he blows his nose or uses the toilet, Stutman said.
Good nasal hygiene can help too. “Teach kids to blow their noses when needed instead of sniffling,” Stutman suggested. Blowing reduces the chances that a cold will develop into sinus or ear infections.
To stay healthy on campus, college students should look for easy-to-follow ways of easing stress, said Dr. Carol Otis, adjunct assistant professor at the UCLA Student Health Center and co-author, with Roger Goldingay, of the “Campus Health Guide” (1989, The College Board, $14.95). The answer may be as simple as a daily 20-minute exercise break.
To avoid putting on extra pounds--what some physicians call “the freshman 15”--students should avoid fast foods and fatty foods, Otis said. “(But) it takes a lot of effort, especially when you’re eating cafeteria-style.”
It is also essential to have an up-to-date immunization record, Otis said. Before school starts, kindergartners should have received these vaccinations: measles, mumps and rubella, polio, and DPT, according to Sharon Wanglin of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Young adults may need booster shots for measles or tetanus, physicians say.
Otis recommends that new college students check out campus health-care facilities before they need them, especially if they suffer from a chronic medical problem such as asthma.
It also may be prudent to investigate requirements for using health plans on campus, Otis said. “Some health maintenance organizations, for instance, need to see a membership card (before rendering medical services).” Low-cost health insurance may be available through the school, she said.
“Once at school, a college student’s greatest risk is from accidents or sexually transmitted diseases,” Otis added. “Students should follow two simple rules to minimize those risks--drive sober and use condoms.”
