How to Prevent Common Back-to-School Illnesses

Kids may leave for school with a full backpack and clean hands, but they seem to return with germs, coughs and used tissues. Between shared supplies, group activities and close contact with other students, it’s no surprise that back-to-school sickness is a common concern for parents this time of the year. At BestMed Urgent Care, we see a spike in visits every fall as students pick up everything from the common cold to more serious infections.

To keep your family healthy, learning what illnesses to watch out for and how to help prevent them can make all the difference. Here’s a look at some of the most common illnesses kids face when school starts and what you can do to help keep your child healthy.

1. The Common Cold

Colds are the most frequent back-to-school sickness we see. Caused by viruses, colds spread easily through coughs, sneezes and shared surfaces like doorknobs and desks. Symptoms usually include a runny nose, sore throat, cough and mild fatigue. While it’s one of the most contagious illnesses, it’s also one of the easiest to prevent.

• Teach kids to wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Remind them not to share drinks or snacks
• If they need to sneeze or cough, encourage them to do it into their elbow

2. Stomach Bugs

Norovirus or rotavirus can easily cause stomach trouble, especially in little ones. These bugs are highly contagious and cause vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever.

• Reinforce proper handwashing after bathroom use and before meals.
• If your child gets sick, ensure they drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, including drinks formulated to replace electrolytes.
• Keep sick children home until symptoms have stopped for at least 24 hours.

For dehydration or prolonged symptoms, BestMed Urgent Care offers convenient walk-in clinic services to help kids recover comfortably.

3. Strep Throat

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that becomes more common once school starts. It spreads through respiratory droplets (coughs, sneezes, etc.) and can cause sudden sore throat, pain when swallowing, fever and swollen glands.

• Tell your kids to avoid sharing utensils or water bottles
• Encourage proper hygiene habits

Unlike a viral sore throat, strep requires antibiotics. Our health providers can perform a quick strep test and start treatment right away.

4. Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Pink eye is another frequent back-to-school sickness that spreads quickly among students. It causes redness, itchiness and discharge from one or both eyes. Pink eye can be viral, bacterial or allergic in nature.

• Teach kids not to touch or rub their eyes
• Have everyone in your household use clean towels and avoid sharing personal items

If symptoms appear, visit a walk-in clinic for evaluation. Bacterial pink eye may require prescription eye drops, which both clear the infection and help reduce the spread.

5. Head Lice

While not harmful, lice outbreaks are common in schools and can easily be spread to your household. Lice are tiny insects that live in hair and spread by crawling from person to person through close contact or on shared items like hairbrushes or eye makeup. Remember that lice can affect anyone, regardless of cleanliness.

• Avoid sharing hats, hair accessories, brushes or clothing
• Wear longer hair up to minimize contact
• If your child does bring home lice, try over-the-counter lice shampoos first. If they aren’t effective, see an urgent care provider for a prescription

A school nurse typically checks for lice during routine screenings, but it doesn’t hurt to check at home too, especially if your child has an itchy scalp.

When to Visit BestMed Urgent Care

Despite your best prevention efforts, kids can still get sick. That’s where BestMed Urgent Care comes in. We provide reliable health care for a wide range of common illnesses and injuries such as sore throats, ear infections, sprains, fevers and stomach bugs. It’s especially important to come in when more serious symptoms start to appear, such as a high fever, difficulty breathing, visible rashes, signs of dehydration or unusual fatigue.

Whether it’s after school, over the weekend or during a busy weekday, we’re here when you need us most with convenient walk-in clinic locations across Oregon, Montana, Washington and Wyoming. Visit your nearest BestMed Urgent Care today!