The primary school parent’s guide to winter health

It is currently recommended by the NHS that if your child has symptoms of Covid-19, they should do their best to avoid contact with other people. If they don't feel well enough to go to school, then they shouldn't. 

The symptoms to be aware of are:

• A temperature above 37.8C
• A new, continuous cough
• A loss of, or changes to, their sense of taste and/or smell
• Blocked or runny nose
• Sore throat
• Diarrhoea
• Loss of appetite
• Headache

NHS guidance currently states:

It is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.

If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can. After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower.

If you think your child is almost always ill, you may not be far wrong: the average child has between eight and 12 colds a year.

‘Children are super-spreaders who pass bugs between themselves at a rate,’ Dr Kaye explains. ‘If one child in a class is infected, it’s quite possible that all of them will end up infected.’

This is because they tend not to be great at blowing their noses in a tissue, putting the tissue in the bin and then washing their hands – a sleeve is often used instead!

They may be lax at handwashing after going to the toilet, and put things in their mouths, which encourages the spread of viruses.

They also have a developing immune system that is still learning how to fight off infection, making them more prone than adults to picking up minor illnesses.

‘The good news is that fighting these bugs will make their immune system stronger in the long run, but it can feel like one long slog from September to March,’ Dr Kaye adds.

Most winter bugs can be treated at home with the right medication and some TLC.
 

Coughs, colds, sore throats and earache

You may not need to give your child any medication if they have a mild respiratory virus, although you can give infant or child paracetamol and/or ibuprofen (following the directions on the bottle) if they have a temperature or are feeling unwell.

Don’t panic if your child’s temperature is high – especially if they’re otherwise in good spirits.

‘I always advise treating the child, not the temperature,’ Dr Kaye explains.

‘If they have a temperature of 38.5C but are still running around quite happily, you don’t need to give medication. On the other hand, if they only have a slight fever but are miserable and lethargic, give them paracetamol or ibuprofen.’

Also consider asking your community pharmacist for advice, as they are qualified healthcare professionals who can offer clinical advice on over-the-counter treatments that might make your child more comfortable, such as cough syrup and decongestants.
 

Diarrhoea and vomiting

If your child is sick or has diarrhoea, it’s important to replace the fluids they’ve lost by offering drinks little and often.

‘You can give them water, milk or squash – whatever they’ll drink,’ says Dr Kaye. The NHS advises against giving fruit juice or fizzy drinks, however, as they can make diarrhoea worse.

You can also get rehydration sachets from the pharmacy which are mixed with water and help to prevent your child becoming dehydrated.

‘If you’re concerned that your child isn’t drinking or peeing, try a fluid challenge, where you give them 5ml of water in a medicine syringe every five minutes,’ Dr Kaye advises.

‘If they can’t keep that down, or haven’t peed in six hours, you should take them to A&E.’

‘With most coughs, colds and sickness bugs, you really don’t need to see a GP,’ says Dr Kaye. ‘Remember that there are other ways you can get advice, such as your pharmacist or NHS 111.’

If, however, your child has a fever that isn’t coming down despite regular paracetamol or ibuprofen, you should make a doctor’s appointment.

‘It doesn’t have to go right back down to normal, or to stay down once the medication has worn off, but as long as it’s coming down significantly, I’m not usually worried,’ Dr Kaye advises. ‘If, however, you can’t get it to come down or it lasts four to five days, you should see the GP.

‘I’d also want to see any child who isn’t drinking or peeing, or who is very lethargic.’

Sometimes it can be difficult to get a doctor’s appointment on the day. ‘If you tell them it’s for a young child, they should try to see them, or at least get the duty doctor to phone you, but if not, you can call NHS 111 for advice or go to a walk-in centre,’ says Dr Kaye.

GPs are trying hard to reduce the use of antibiotics. This is because they were overused in the past, which has led to bacteria becoming more resistant to them.

‘Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest health emergencies of the current time,’ Dr Kaye explains.

‘Bacteria have evolved to survive antibiotic treatment. This means that they’re less effective when they do need to be prescribed – we could be heading for a time where even a simple infection needs to be treated in hospital with IV antibiotics.’

Because of this, antibiotics are no longer routinely prescribed for chest infections, ear infections or sore throats.

‘These illnesses are usually viral, which means antibiotics simply don’t work,’ says Dr Kaye.

Antibiotics can also cause side effects themselves, such as diarrhoea and thrush.

‘We would never withhold antibiotics from a child who needs them, but if we tell you that they’re not necessary, we would gently ask that you respect that decision,’ says Dr Kaye.

Flu can be a horrible illness for young children, but the good news is, children can receive the flu vaccine in the form of a simple nasal spray,* so there’s no need for needles.

Giving your child the vaccine not only helps protect them, but also protects vulnerable people around them from becoming unwell.

Children in Reception and Years 1-6 can be given the vaccine at school, so look out for the consent form in your child's bag.

*Not all children will be able to have the nasal spray. Some children with certain health conditions will need to be given an injected vaccine.

Winter bugs are part and parcel of primary school life, but there are steps you can take to limit their spread and keep your child as healthy as possible.

• Teach your child to blow their nose in a tissue, put the tissue in the bin and then wash their hands. ‘Realistically, when they’re at school, they won’t be able to wash their hands every time they sneeze, but putting their tissue in the bin is really important,’ says Dr Kaye. You could ask their teacher if they could keep a small bottle of hand sanitiser on their table.
• Teach them to wash their hands with soap every time they use the toilet and before eating.
• Encourage them to eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and veg, and to drink regularly.
• If your child has a cough, cold or sickness bug, avoid sharing towels, cups etc until they’re better.
• If they have diarrhoea or vomiting, clean the toilet seat, flush, taps, surfaces and door handles every day.
• Don’t let them go swimming for two weeks after a D&V bug.

The winter months can be a nightmare if your child is recurrently off school sick – especially if you’re a working parent.

‘I’ve got three children aged seven and under, so I often have at least one off sick, says mum Zoe. ‘Thank goodness I’m self-employed and can juggle my work around them when they’re poorly.’

Legally, you’re allowed ‘reasonable’ time off work to deal with an emergency involving your child – for example if they’re too unwell for school or you need to take them to a doctor’s appointment – although it may not be paid.

Your employer decides what is ‘reasonable time off,’ and when this period ends, you could be asked to take annual leave or parental leave (up to four weeks a year, in blocks of a whole week; this could be helpful if your child has chickenpox, for example).

Often, though, coping with a sick child who’s off school involves juggling care between both parents if possible, grandparents and others who may be willing to help.

‘It’s hard work, and can be frustrating, but remember: there’s nothing wrong with your child watching six hours of Peppa Pig as a one-off if it keeps them happy and gets you through the day,’ says Dr Kaye.

For more winter health advice, please visit: nhs.uk/winteradvice