Back-to-School Germ Alert: Does Your Child Need a Doctor?

The new school year brings fresh routines, new classmates and, almost inevitably, a fresh wave of germs.

At Baptist Health Urgent Care, pediatric visits typically increase about two to three weeks after South Florida schools reopen, says Ladan Pourmasiha, D.O., a family medicine physician with Baptist Health and medical director for its Urgent Care centers in Broward County. With hundreds of children from different households spending hours together indoors, viruses have plenty of opportunities to spread.

For parents, the goal isn’t to prevent every sniffle. It’s to be prepared, recognize when a child may be getting sick and know when symptoms call for medical attention.

What’s Going Around?

In late summer, rhinovirus—the virus behind the common cold—and enterovirus are among the most common viruses seen at Baptist Health Urgent Care, according to Dr. Pourmasiha. COVID-19 also continues to circulate.

Clinicians are seeing other common childhood illnesses as well, including:

• Strep Throat
• Conjunctivitis, or pink eye
• Gastroenteritis that causes vomiting and diarrhea

Because many infections can begin with similar symptoms, it isn’t always possible for parents to know exactly what their child has based on symptoms alone.

Help Kids Build Better Germ-Fighting Habits

Schools are full of shared, high-touch surfaces. Dr. Pourmasiha points to desks and tables, water fountains, cafeteria trays and playground equipment as common places where germs can spread.

A few everyday habits can help reduce the risk:

• Teach children to wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds.
• Pack alcohol-based hand sanitizer for times when soap and water aren’t available.
• Encourage kids to cough or sneeze into their elbow.
• Remind them not to share water bottles, utensils or lip balm.

Practicing those habits before a child gets sick can make them easier to follow during the school day.

Look Beyond the Obvious Symptoms

Some signs of illness are hard to miss—fever, persistent coughing, wheezing, a heavy runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea. Others can be more subtle.

Dr. Pourmasiha advises parents to watch for sudden lethargy, unusual napping, reluctance to play, loss of appetite or refusal to drink. A child who becomes unusually irritable, clingy or withdrawn may also be coming down with something.

Vague complaints such as a “sore tummy,” “heavy” eyes or muscle aches can be clues, too.

Sometimes one of the most useful things a parent can ask is simply: Is my child acting like themself?

Cold, RSV, COVID-19 or Measles?

Rhinovirus, RSV, COVID-19 and measles can begin with symptoms such as coughing, congestion, fever and fatigue.

Dr. Pourmasiha notes some features that may help distinguish them:

• Rhinovirus: Symptoms are generally mild. High fevers and significant breathing difficulty are uncommon in older children.
• RSV: Watch for rapid or shallow breathing, wheezing or the chest pulling in around the ribs, particularly in infants.
• COVID-19: May cause significant body aches, gastrointestinal symptoms and, in some cases, loss of taste or smell.
• Measles: Typically causes a high fever followed by a blotchy red rash that begins on the face and spreads downward. Small white spots inside the mouth, known as Koplik spots, may also appear.

Because symptoms can overlap, parents shouldn’t rely on symptom-checking alone if a child is becoming significantly ill or getting worse.

When Should You Go to Urgent Care?

Urgent care can be appropriate for illnesses that are not life-threatening but shouldn’t wait for a regular pediatrician appointment.

According to Dr. Pourmasiha, those may include:

• Persistent fever
• Mild wheezing
• Ear pain
• Burning with urination
• An inability to keep fluids down

A child who has severe trouble breathing or is completely unresponsive should be taken to the emergency department immediately.

Baptist Health Urgent Care centers can also perform rapid testing for Strep, flu, RSV and COVID-19. Digital X-rays are available when clinicians need to check for complications such as pneumonia.

Make the Urgent Care Visit Safer

If your child does need to be seen, a little preparation can help protect other patients. Dr. Pourmasiha recommends putting a well-fitting mask on a child with respiratory symptoms before entering the lobby. Families can also use online check-in options, when available, so they may be able to wait at home or in the car until an exam room is ready.

Parents should also tell staff immediately if a child has an unexplained rash or has been exposed to a highly contagious illness such as measles.

Urgent care centers use precautions such as symptom screening, masking protocols, isolation areas and enhanced air filtration to help limit exposure.

Not Sure Whether to Go In? Virtual Care May Help

When parents aren’t sure whether a child needs an in-person evaluation, Virtual Urgent Care can offer another starting point.

Virtual urgent care visits, available 24/7 on Baptist Health’s PineApp, allow families to speak with a licensed provider from the comfort of home and get guidance about whether an in-person exam is necessary. It can also help avoid unnecessary exposure to other illnesses in a waiting room.

Prepare, Don’t Panic

Back-to-school viral surges happen every year, and Dr. Pourmasiha’s central message to parents is preparation over panic.

Good hand hygiene, staying current on routine immunizations and keeping sick children home from school can all help limit the spread of contagious illnesses and are solid strategies for keeping your child healthy this school year.

“Parents won’t be able to prevent every cold, stomach bug or fever that comes home in a backpack,” acknowledges Dr. Pourmasiha. “But knowing what symptoms to watch for, when to seek care and how to reduce exposure can make the inevitable sick days feel much more manageable.”

If you think your child’s symptoms require an urgent care visit, click here to find a Baptist Health Urgent Care location near you.