TAMPA – As students return to classrooms, parents and pediatricians will most likely notice the familiar pattern of seasonal illnesses. While CDC data shows that acute respiratory illnesses are currently at a very low level, this can shift quickly as children gather in classrooms. Meanwhile, hand-foot-and-mouth disease is among the most commonly reported pediatric illnesses right now, according to pediatricians.
“Even before the start of school we were seeing the usual uptick in hand-foot-and-mouth disease,” said Dr. Rosa Taveras, a pediatrician at AdventHealth. “Right now, respiratory viruses remain under control nationally, but as kids spend more time indoors and share surfaces, parents should watch for signs of cold, flu, or stomach bugs coming up in the weeks ahead.”
Taveras offers these proactive strategies to help keep kids healthy now and for the rest of the school year:
Take Precautions
- Keep up with routine immunizations including flu, DTaP (for whooping cough) and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella).
- Encourage frequent, thorough handwashing with soap and water or use hand sanitizer when needed.
- Teach and remind kids to cover coughs and sneezes into their elbow or tissue, then wash hands.
Stay Informed and Monitor Symptoms
- Parents should monitor for classic signs of fever, sore throat, cough, rash (for HFMD or measles) or prolonged coughing fits (whooping cough).
- If symptoms emerge, keep children home until fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication and follow school policy guidelines.
Act Early if Illness Strikes
- For flu or COVID-19, antiviral treatments work best when started early, ideally within 48 hours of symptom onset.
- Those at higher risk or with infants should contact their pediatrician promptly for testing and possible treatment.
Boost Wellness Year‑Round
- Encourage balanced nutrition, plenty of rest, regular physical activity and stress management to reinforce immune health.
