• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Back to School!

September 2, 2010 by Dr. Mike Leave a Comment

As summer break ends, my office starts to get busy.  Putting all those kids together at school in a confined place is a perfect way to transmit infection.  Here are some recommendations to limit your child’s visits to the doctor this school year.
 
First, I want to start with some basic, obvious healthcare tips.  A good nights’ sleep paired with a healthy diet is imperative to good health and peak performance in school.  If your child’s diet lacks diversity, add a basic multivitamin.   Encourage your children to wash their hands before eating at school.  Good hand washing is the easiest and most effective way to control the spread of infection.  In addition, remind your kids not to share food and drinks; someone can be contagious without feeling ill.
 
Gym showers and locker room floors are breeding grounds for tinea pedis, the fungus that causes athletes foot.  Make sure your athlete wears shower shoes in the locker room and thoroughly dries his/her feet after showering to help prevent this irritating problem.
 
Another health tip is to not share hats, combs, or brushes.  Lice do not jump or fly, they crawl.  So it is close contact, like sleeping in the same bed or sharing the aforementioned objects, that transmits the bugs.  Lice can be difficult and frustrating to treat.  The over-the-counter remedies are safe and effective, but sometimes a prescription medication needs to be used.  Be careful not to mistake dandruff flakes for nits (a louse’s egg casing).  If uncertain, come in to the doctor for evaluation.
 
Vaccinate your children.  This year, the flu shot protects against H1N1 as well as seasonal flu, so two different vaccines are not necessary.  Also, there is presently a pertussis (whooping cough) epidemic.  Make sure your child is up to date on this vaccine.  Current recommendations are to receive a booster before kindergarten entrance and then at 11 years.
 
Obviously, there is not one fail-safe way to keep your children healthy during the school year.  But, by discussing and explaining health prevention with them, your children become active members of their health team.  This can empower them to make strides toward staying healthy.  Just remember, only nine months until June.
All information given is not a substitute for the advice of your pediatrician, primary care provider or trained health professional.  Always consult with your pediatrician or health care professional

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Uncategorized

About Dr. Mike

Dr. Mike has been practicing general pediatrics in a suburb of Los Angeles for over 10 years. He is married and has a six-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. He enjoys golf, football and family time. His higher education has all been through the University of California system - Bachelor of Science with honors from UCLA, his MD degree from University of California at Irvine and his pediatric training at UCLA. He is the featured pediatrician in the DVD Newborn Care 101, What Parents Need To Know.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

Brooke Burke: My Slim Down Secrets

Everywhere I look, I hear about a new fitness fad, a quick … [Read More...] about Brooke Burke: My Slim Down Secrets

Must Have

winter

Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

"It's beginning to look  a lot like Christmas..." The … [Read More...] about Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

Did you know?

Early Signs of Pregnancy While on Birth Control

Early Signs of Pregnancy While on Birth Control

How Does IVF Work

How Does IVF Work?

What Can I Use as an Egg Substitute When Baking Corn Bread

What Can I Use as an Egg Substitute When Baking Corn Bread?

Emotional Development of Adolescents

Quick Ways to Cook a Round Steak

Quick Ways to Cook a Round Steak

How Early Can an Ultrasound Detect a Fetus?

How Early Can an Ultrasound Detect a Fetus?

Painful Intercourse During Pregnancy

Painful Intercourse During Pregnancy

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.