Back-to-School Season Means Back-to-Germs—Here’s How to Prepare

As classrooms fill up again this fall, so do the germs. Dr. Crystal Carney, Chair of Pediatrics at Dignity Health Memorial Hospital, says it’s common for kids to start picking up illnesses as they return to school. The most frequent early culprit is the stomach flu, but she’s also seeing cases of mycoplasma, or walking pneumonia, which can show up as a lingering nighttime cough and recurring fever. Carney stresses the importance of prevention—handwashing, hand sanitizer, and teaching kids not to share food or drinks. Still, she reminds parents not to panic: sickness is part of the school year. If your child has persistent fever, staccato coughing, or trouble breathing, it’s time to see a doctor.