If the little ones are out of the house for a few hours, parents have time for other things again. Often, however, the offspring bring home more than just stories: e.g. lice or inflamed eyes.
Many new mothers and fathers imagine the kindergarten time simply beautiful: The child likes to go, plays with his friends all day and learns a lot for life and being with other people along the way. What most parents probably don't think about at first: illnesses – and lots of them.
Kindergartens or even preschools and primary schools are almost a breeding ground for a wide variety of diseases. As soon as the flu is over, conjunctivitis or the gastrointestinal virus follow and the topic of head lice should not be ignored either. You can read here which diseases you are better prepared for with small children.
It itches and sticks: conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis can even affect babies, but is otherwise very typical in small children. Children's eyes are more sensitive to environmental influences and can quickly become inflamed by draughts, chlorinated water or allergic reactions (e.g. hay fever). "If the secretion is not only there after sleeping, but also pulls pus threads over the eye when awake, parents should take their child to the doctor," advises Dr. Katrin Rackelmann-Silber in an article in Apotheken Umschau. Then it could be a viral conjunctivitis, which is common in children. This usually heals on its own, but this can take up to ten days.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis in children include:
- Photosensitivity
- Swollen eyelid margins
- Reddened eyes
- Sticky eyelids (morning, purulent or mucous secretion)
- Burning, itching and watering of the eyes
- "Foreign body feeling" in the eye
- Child rubs his eyes frequently
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The classic of daycare diseases: hand-foot-mouth
Daycare children rarely get around hand-foot-and-mouth disease and sometimes suffer from it several times in one season. The disease is triggered by different types of viruses. Signs include fever, sore throat and lack of appetite. After about two days, first spots, then blisters form on the tongue and gums of the child. In the course of time, these also appear on the rest of the body - especially on the palms of the hands and on the soles of the feet. As long as the rash is acute, the patient is highly contagious, according to the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA).
Good to know: Once the hand, foot and mouth disease is over, fingernails and toenails may fall out. However, this is quite rare.
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No dandruff, but: head lice
It is commonly thought that head lice indicate poor hygiene, but this is not true. The little bloodsuckers prefer even freshly washed hair. If your child scratches his head suspiciously often, this can be a warning sign. Head lice are rather difficult to recognize: the animals themselves are tiny dots on the scalp, their eggs (nits) look like hair scales.
According to the Robert Koch Institute, daycare centers and other community facilities must report a head lice infestation to the health department, and parents must inform them when they discover the facility. The control of the animals is annoying, but thanks to special shampoos or emulsions as well as a lice comb (nit comb).
Especially in daycare centers and preschools, these little animals crawl around on the heads of the offspring: lice. They can usually be removed with a nit comb and special gels or shampoos. However, a visit to the pediatrician should always come first. (Symbolic image) © epd/Imago
Viral disease with high fever: the three-day fever
Three-day fever (exanthema subitum/Roseola infantum) is a viral disease caused by the herpes virus 6. The AOK informs on its homepage that "almost all children are infected once with the herpes virus" and especially infants and toddlers up to three years of age would be affected. If the child is ill, a sudden onset of fever, which can last three to five days, is typical. The AOK continues: "The body temperature can rise up to 40 degrees Celsius. As suddenly as the fever came, it also falls off again."
Subsequently, a slight rash may appear, especially in the chest and back area. This remains for about two to three days and should then recede. In the case of a three-day fever, a visit to the doctor is always recommended.
Common disease: the gastrointestinal infection
According to the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA), gastrointestinal infections are by far among the most common infectious diseases – worldwide: "Almost everyone suffers from vomiting diarrhea at least once in their lifetime. Often even several times." In most cases, it is noroviruses or rotaviruses that trigger vomiting diarrhea.
The good thing is that the infection itself is usually short-lived. And if the child is symptom-free for 24 hours, eats again and behaves normally, he or she can return to daycare or school. The bad thing is that if the offspring brings the infection home with them, all family members are often on it one by one – because it is very contagious.
Good to know: Parents are obliged to report any gastrointestinal infection (in children under six years of age) to the childcare facilities so that increased hygiene measures can be taken.
This article contains only general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It is in no way a substitute for a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, individual questions about clinical pictures may not be answered by our editors.
