What parents can do to reduce the likelihood of kids getting sick and missing school
It’s back to school for many more students across the United States, which means back to kids gathering in close quarters and sharing knowledge — and viruses.
Vaccines are recommended for some illnesses, but there are also basic preventive measures that parents and caregivers should take to reduce the likelihood of getting sick and missing school — and passing on viruses to other members of the family.
To find out what to do, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University. She previously was Baltimore’s health commissioner and is the mother of two school-age children.
CNN: What kind of virus threats should parents be ready for this school year?
Dr. Leana Wen: There are a number to consider. The first and most common are respiratory illnesses. To begin with, Covid-19 numbers are still high. The coronavirus is an extremely contagious virus, and it’s possible to contract it, even for those who’ve previously been vaccinated or have gotten it once before or more.
Peak flu season and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, season are coming, so we should anticipate flu and RSV activity to pick up in the coming months. In the meantime, there are other common respiratory illnesses, such as rhinoviruses and adenoviruses, that are constantly in circulation and easily spread in school-age populations.
