Back to school: what are the most common infections in the classroom and how to prevent them

A child under two years of age could present between six and eight respiratory infections a year, because their immune system is not yet fully developed due to not having been exposed to the microorganisms that usually cause diseases. This is stated in a report by the Center for Infectious Studies Foundation (Funcei) entitled “Not everything is Covid”.

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In the context of the face-to-face return to classes and the decrease in infections of COVID-19, the classroom is pointed out as one of the main centers of disease transmission among children and adolescents, but, at the same time, it is one of the safest spaces to prevent the circulation of these due to the prevention habits that the new coronavirus brought. Faced with this panorama, the infectologists consulted by THE NATION (GDA) warned about the risk of recurrence of common conditions in children.

“School entry usually coincides with the predominance of diseases and infections in boys, mainly the respiratory ones. In April and May, the demand for health services increases because cases begin to appear, but a very low percentage requires hospitalization. The common denominator of the symptoms of fever and cough is mainly of the influenza viruses. Children who attend kindergarten are the most exposed to all circulating viruses, which cause colds and fevers and usually recover between five and seven days. This does not imply that they should not resort to the garden, but we do have to be attentive to the wide variety of viruses, which also do not generate immunity between them because they are different “, pointed mario elmomember of the Argentine Society of Pediatrics (SAP).

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Respiratory infections, particularly bronchiolitis, are the most frequent among boys. “Now, with the arrival of autumn and with the return of face-to-face classes, attention to the little ones must be increased, since respiratory infections will prevail. Bronchiolitis, in the smallest, two years old and pneumonia and non-specific respiratory conditions, such as rhinitis or coronavirus, are the most frequent. The famous flu or influenza is a more complicated picture, but it is self-limited in healthy children, so attention should be paid to children with risk factors in case complications appear: if a high fever appears, around 39.5°C, sore throat, throat, dry cough or muscle aches. It is the most feared in boys with low defenses or asthmatics, “he explained. Cecilia Torroijaa pediatric infectologist from Funcei.

And he added: “In the last two years the circulation of the coronavirus has prevailed almost 100% and, although in recent weeks there has been a drop in cases, now the flu virus began to circulate. Respiratory infections, such as adenovirus, circulated very little at this stage. COVID-19 displaced the rest of the respiratory viruses that normally circulate, but now we are returning to the pre-pandemic stage.”

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The most common

In the preschool and school stages, the most frequent diseases are respiratory infections, which can occur in any stage of the year and most of them are resolved without specific treatment and without complications. For their part, the gastrointestinal they are less common, although almost all children have one a year, according to the report.

Bronchiolitis is the most frequent infection in children under two years of age, mainly caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the adenovirus and the influenza virus. Experts insist on paying attention to the appearance of fever, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, and cough against the flu virus; which can lead to pneumonia, compromising the lungs, and can be viral or bacterial, as in the case of pneumococcus.

omar tobacco, pediatrician and former president of the SAP, pointed out: “When we speak, we always emit microscopic droplets that can carry bacteria that we spread. Also through the hands, especially boys who put many objects in their mouths, in gastrointestinal infections. Some measures that were internalized with the pandemic serve to prevent these diseases, such as use of the chinstrap, cross ventilation and social distancing; as well as permanent hand hygiene and the use of alcohol gel.

And he added: “With the quarantine, the boys got very little sick the last two years. Even so, the benefits of being present are far superior to the potential effect of keeping them isolated, which generated other physical and emotional issues. Fortunately, most circulating respiratory diseases are simple and largely preventable by vaccination.”

Prevention

The four main routes of infection they are respiratory, after coughing or sneezing; the digestive or fecal-oral, through contact with the hands of contaminated objects or the ingestion of water or food; by direct contact with the sick person; and by contact with saliva, urine or blood, where most viruses are present.

The experts highlighted the vaccination as the main prevention tool, with emphasis on a framework in which the national government warned of an increase in cases of Influenza A. “The national vaccination schedule, which vaccinate against seasonal flu from six months. Pneumococcus is also important in this population,” Elmo pointed out.

The preventive measures to prevent the circulation of the coronavirus could have influenced the decrease in the transmission of the rest of the respiratory viruses. “In addition, frequent hand washing and cleaning of surfaces within the school is essential to protect children, since they may be in contact with virus secretions, on contaminated boards, computers or toys. Educational personnel must also be cautious, maintaining the classroom ventilation and pay special attention to those centers that have canteens. If parents observe any symptoms, do not take them to school until they have a proper diagnosis,” added Torroija.

The experts agreed that the implementation of preventive measures for COVID-19 influenced the protection of boys against the rest of the most frequent diseases and infections.

“The measures against COVID-19 made safer classrooms. Society in general became aware of the importance of hand washing and it became a habit. During the extreme quarantine, the little ones did not present respiratory or gastrointestinal viruses in general, which are usually seen throughout the year. When we resumed contact last year, we insisted on the importance of maintaining the use of the chinstrap and strict hand washing, which helped reduce the frequency of circulation of these viruses,” Torroija pointed out.

Elmo concluded: “With the pandemic we were very strict with the periods of isolation, but it is valid for any illness and it is important that the boy does not make an overexertion to go to school if he is not fit, the ideal is seven days. Also, be attentive to whether the presence of mucus and cough lasts over time, to verify that it does not compromise your general health.

By Sandra Rodríguez Ramos, La Nación, Argentina/GDA