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Back to school illnesses: How to best protect your child

It happens every year - your child goes back to school only to come home sick a few weeks later. It's normal, but it can also be preventable.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas —

As many parents may know, going back to school often means that it won't be long until your child comes back home sick. 

Some of the most common back to school illnesses include stomach bugs, cough, colds, strep throat and pink eye. 

When you go from spending time with family all summer to sharing a classroom with over twenty kids, this is something that pediatrician Dr. Eric Baggerman says is totally normal. 

"These viruses usually will go in through these mucosal surfaces: your nose, your mouth," Baggerman said. "The same reason there's these seasonal spikes in it because of humidity and temperature and what a certain virus is like, there's also just the exposure part because when we all come together where there's school, just like at Christmas, we start sharing the viruses too." 

When it comes to talking to younger children about back-to-school illnesses Children's Health says one of the best things you can do is explain to your child that germs hide everywhere - especially surfaces like handrails, doorknobs and desks. 

If your child does get sick, Dr. Baggerman says there is some good news; while they're more likely to catch infections they're typically good at fighting them off. 

"Children are resilient. Of course, there's always special cases for different immune systems, but a normal immune system for these diseases that we share amongst each other in the classroom, children will do well. It takes some time, so even if it's a mild illness, it still keeps them from education and keeps the parent from work sometime," he said.

Dr. Baggerman adds that to best protect themselves, children should be washing their hands often and keeping their hands away from their face. 

Previous exposure to a virus and the body's knowledge on how to fight off plays a role in a child's recovery, but so do the habits you help your child form. 

"Sleeping right, having a good diet and controlling stress all help us bolster a stronger immune system so that we're affected less by the diseases we're exposed to." 

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