Kids are exposed to more germs at the start of the school year. While back-to-school illnesses and infections are inevitable, you can always help prevent sickness by encouraging your kids to wash their hands regularly. If your child happens to catch something at school, we always recommend you visit us at any of our locations along Denver’s metro area so we can help them start feeling better faster!

Here are six common illnesses and infections we see now that school is in session.

common classroom illnesses

Common Cold

Most people get colds in the winter and spring, but it is possible to get a cold any time of the year. Symptoms usually include:

  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Headaches
  • Body aches

There is no cure for a cold. Most people recover within about 7 to 10 days. Getting lots of rest and drinking plenty of fluids will help you to start feeling better. Over-the-counter medicines may help ease symptoms but will not make your cold go away any faster.

People with weakened immune systems, asthma, or respiratory conditions may develop serious illness, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. You should seek medical advice from a provider if you or your child has one or more of these conditions:

  • Symptoms that last more than 10 days
  • Symptoms that are severe or unusual
  • If your child is younger than 3 months of age and has a fever or is lethargic

You should also seek medical advice right away if you are at high risk for serious flu complications and get flu symptoms such as fever, chills, and muscle or body aches.

Strep Throat

In general, strep throat is a mild infection, but it can be very painful. The most common symptoms of a strep infection include:

  • Sore throat that can start very quickly
  • Pain when swallowing
  • Fever
  • Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
  • Tiny, red spots (petechiae — pronounced pi-TEE-kee-eye) on the roof of the mouth (the soft or hard palate)
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck

Other symptoms may include headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting — especially in children. Someone with strep throat may also have a rash known as scarlet fever.

Only a rapid strep test or throat culture can determine if group A strep is the cause. A medical provider cannot tell if someone has strep throat just by looking at their throat. Strep is treated with antibiotics. Someone who tests positive for strep throat but has no symptoms (called a “carrier”) usually does not need antibiotics.

Rapid Testing LLC offers curbside strep testing at Advanced Urgent Care’s clinics – all without a provider visit. Click here to learn more about our strep throat rapid test.

Mono

Infectious mononucleosis, also called “mono,” is a contagious disease. Sometimes called the “kissing disease,” it is common among teenagers and young adults, especially college students.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the most common cause of the infection. At least one out of four teenagers and young adults who get infected with EBV will develop infectious mononucleosis. Symptoms include:

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Head and body aches
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpits
  • Enlarged spleen and/or liver
  • Rash

Symptoms may develop slowly and may not all occur at the same time. There is no vaccine to protect against infectious mononucleosis. You can help protect yourself by not kissing or sharing drinks, food, or personal items, like toothbrushes, with people who have infectious mononucleosis. You can help relieve symptoms of infectious mononucleosis by:

  • Drinking fluids to stay hydrated
  • Getting plenty of rest
  • Taking over-the-counter medications for pain and fever

If you have mono, you should not take penicillin antibiotics like ampicillin or amoxicillin. Based on the severity of the symptoms, a healthcare provider may recommend treatment of specific organ systems affected by mono.

COVID

COVID is a respiratory infection that affects the upper and lower respiratory tract. The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, enters the body through the respiratory system. It infects cells in the respiratory tract, including the nose, throat, and lungs.

The virus is spread through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes. These droplets can be inhaled by people in close proximity, leading to infection.

Children can contract COVID-19, but they appear to be less susceptible to severe illness compared to adults. Most children who contract the virus experience mild to moderate symptoms or were asymptomatic, meaning they showed no symptoms at all. Common symptoms of COVID-19 in children are similar to those in adults and may include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • New loss of taste or smell

It’s important to note that while these symptoms are possible in children with COVID-19, they are not exclusive to the virus and can also occur with other illnesses, such as the common cold or flu. Testing for COVID, the flu, and other illnesses is important to know which illness your child may have.

Not sure if it’s COVID or the flu? Maybe it’s RSV? Rapid Testing LLC offers curbside testing at Advanced Urgent Care’s clinics – all without a provider visit. Get tested for COVID, RSV, and the flu in a single test, or just for COVID or the flu. Click here to learn more about our testing options.

If your child has COVID, some general guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19 in children are:

  • Isolation and rest: If a child tests positive for COVID-19 or is suspected to have the virus, they should isolate themselves from others, including family members, to prevent the spread of the virus. Adequate rest is important to help the body recover.
  • Hydration: Encourage the child to drink plenty of fluids, such as water, clear soups, and oral rehydration solutions, to stay hydrated.
  • Fever reduction: Over-the-counter fever-reducing medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional to help manage fever and alleviate discomfort. Follow the dosing instructions and consult a doctor before giving any medication to a child.
  • Symptom relief: Treat specific symptoms like cough and congestion with appropriate medications, following a healthcare provider’s advice.
  • Monitoring: Keep a close watch on the child’s symptoms, especially if they have any underlying health conditions. If symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop, seek medical attention promptly.
  • Emergency care: In severe cases, children may develop breathing difficulties, persistent chest pain, confusion, bluish lips or face, or other concerning symptoms. If any of these symptoms occur, seek emergency medical care immediately.

It’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider for guidance and appropriate care, especially for children who are at a higher risk of severe illness, such as those with underlying health conditions. Severe cases of COVID-19 in children is relatively rare, but some children, particularly those with underlying health conditions, can develop more severe symptoms. A condition known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but serious complication of COVID-19. MIS-C is characterized by inflammation of various body parts and organs and can lead to severe illness.

Flu

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. There are two main types of the flu virus: types A and B. The influenza A and B viruses that routinely spread in people (human influenza viruses) are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year. People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

  • Fever or feeling feverish/chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue (tiredness)

Flu signs and symptoms usually come on suddenly. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults. It’s important to note that not everyone with the flu will have a fever.

Take antivirals drugs, if prescribed by a provider, and be sure to take everyday precautions to protect others while sick including:

  • While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash after you use it
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, or If that’s not possible, use an alcohol-based hand rub
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu
  • Stay home until you are better

If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities.

Rapid Testing LLC offers curbside flu testing at Advanced Urgent Care’s clinics – all without a provider visit. Click here to learn more about our flu rapid test.

Who To See

Consider visiting Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine in Colorado if you or your child are unwell. You can reserve your spot or walk-in to any of our clinics. We also offer telehealth visits so you can be seen without leaving the comfort of home.