As children return to school for the spring term, UK health officials are urging parents to follow five simple steps to reduce the spread of common winter viruses such as chickenpox, norovirus and flu. The advice, from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), aims to protect children and the wider community.
Dr Catherine Falconer from UKHSA emphasised that good hygiene is key: 'The winter period can see an increase in some of the common seasonal viruses which disrupt children's education and cause more serious illnesses.' She recommends regular handwashing with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, or using hand sanitiser, as viruses can live on hands.
To stop infections spreading, parents should teach children to catch coughs and sneezes in tissues, bin them immediately, and wash hands afterwards. For sickness bugs like norovirus and E. coli, which cause diarrhoea and vomiting, using bleach-based cleaning products on surfaces and avoiding food preparation for others until 48 hours after symptoms stop are advised.
Children should stay home from school if they have a high temperature and are unwell, returning only after the fever has passed. Those with diarrhoea or vomiting should wait 48 hours after symptoms end before going back. However, children with a runny nose, sore throat or slight cough but no fever are encouraged to attend school.
Scarlet fever and chickenpox also peak in late winter and early spring. For scarlet fever, look for a 'strawberry tongue' and contact a GP; keep children off school for 24 hours after starting antibiotics. Chickenpox is highly contagious with an itchy, spotty rash; children should stay off until all spots have crusted over.
UKHSA also promotes the nasal spray flu vaccine for children, noting uptake among pre-schoolers is lower than other groups despite flu being more serious for them. Parents are advised to check eligibility and ensure children are up to date with all routine vaccinations, including MMR and polio, as uptake has dropped.
