What Are the Most Common Back-to-School Illnesses?
Once kids are spending their days together in classrooms, on buses, at sports practices, and in group activities, it's common for germs to start making the rounds.
If your child comes home with a cough one week and a sore throat the next, you're definitely not alone. At Priority 1 Urgent Care, we see many of the same illnesses pop up once the school year gets underway, including colds, flu, strep throat, respiratory infections, and ear or sinus infections.
When symptoms show up after school, on the weekend, or when you simply aren't sure what's going on, you don't have to wait days for an appointment. Priority 1 Urgent Care provides convenient walk-in and reservation-based care 7 days a week for families throughout Guilderland, Albany, and the surrounding Capital Region.
1. Colds
A runny nose, stuffy nose, cough, sneezing, or a scratchy throat are all familiar signs that your child may be coming down with a cold.
With kids, one illness can also seem to blend into the next. They may start feeling better after a few days, only to have congestion or a cough hang around. That's not necessarily a reason to worry. Some cold symptoms can last longer than the initial illness.
What we pay attention to is the overall direction of the illness. Is your child gradually getting better, or are they getting worse? If they're improving and then suddenly develop new or more severe symptoms, that's a good reason to have them evaluated.
2. Flu
The flu can look different from the typical cold because it often comes on more suddenly.
Your kid might be at school feeling fine and then come home exhausted, achy, feverish, or complaining of a headache. Cough, chills, and body aches are also common.
If they become significantly sick very quickly, or you aren't sure what's causing their symptoms, Priority 1 Urgent Care can provide flu testing and evaluate their symptoms to determine the appropriate treatment. No need to wait for a primary care appointment when the flu hits during the school week.
3. Strep Throat
Strep throat can cause a painful sore throat, fever, swollen glands, red or swollen tonsils, and sometimes white patches on the tonsils or a stomach ache. Unlike many viral illnesses, strep typically doesn't come with a cough or runny nose.
The important thing to remember is that not every sore throat is strep. You can have a very uncomfortable sore throat from a virus infection, too.
If your child has a sudden, painful sore throat, particularly with fever and no cough, getting tested can help you know what you're dealing with. At Priority 1 Urgent Care, we offer same-day strep testing, so you don't necessarily have to wait for a scheduled primary care appointment when symptoms show up at an inconvenient time.
4. RSV and Other Respiratory Infections
RSV and other respiratory infections can spread quickly when kids are back in close contact at school. For many children, RSV looks similar to a cold, with congestion, a runny nose, cough, and sometimes a fever. What matters most is how your child is handling the illness.
For example, a cough that is annoying but doesn't interfere much with your child's normal activities is different from a cough that is making it difficult to sleep, eat, drink, or breathe comfortably.
We also see respiratory symptoms that linger after the original illness seems to be gone. If your child’s cough is getting worse instead of better, lasts longer than expected, or is interfering with their normal routine, that's a good time to have them checked.
5. Ear and Sinus Infections
Sometimes a cold doesn't quite go away.
Your child may start complaining about ear pain after several days of congestion, have trouble sleeping because of pressure, or seem more irritable than usual. Sinus symptoms can also linger after a respiratory illness. Ongoing congestion, facial pressure, headaches, or thick nasal drainage may be worth getting evaluated, particularly if symptoms improve and then suddenly get worse.
Not every ear or sinus infection requires antibiotics, but if we determine that a bacterial infection is the likely cause, our physicians can prescribe antibiotics when appropriate.
Receive Back-to-School Care at Priority 1 Urgent Care in Guilderland, NY
If your child develops a sore throat, cough, fever, or other back-to-school illness, Priority 1 Urgent Care serves families in Guilderland, Albany, and surrounding Capital Region communities such as Bethlehem, Colonie, Rotterdam, New Scotland, Berne, Knox, Westerlo, and Delanson.
Our office is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 7 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can save a spot online before your visit. If you have questions about your symptoms or need care, you can contact us directly at (518) 867-8040.