Children who are sick should not be allowed to go to school or day care, health chiefs have told parents amid a flurry of winter bugs.
Young people who are ill and have a high temperature – classified as 38C or more – “should stay home from school or nursery until they feel better and the fever has gone down,” Britain’s Health Assurance Agency said today.
The move will help reduce the spread of Covid, influenza and scarlet fever, which are “circulating at high levels” and “likely to increase further” in the coming weeks, it said.
Millions of students will return to class this week after the Christmas break amid concerns about high hospitalizations due to winter viruses.
Young people who are ill and have a high temperature – classified as 38C or more – should “stay away from school or nursery until they feel better and the fever has gone down”, Britain’s Health Assurance Agency said today
UKHSA data shows hospitalizations for flu remain high among young people, with 19 children per 100,000 children under four (solid black line) being cared for by the NHS for the virus. The chart shows the number of visitors per 100,000 by age group
In addition to the flu epidemic, the number of Covid viruses in young people is also increasing. There were four hospital admissions per 100,000 children under the age of four (solid black line) and 0.5 admissions per 100,000 among children aged five to 14 (light blue line).
And cases of scarlet fever, an infection caused by Strep A bacteria, are also soaring. UKHSA data shows that there were almost 34,000 cases in England on 25 December (in solid blue line). The value is seven times higher than the level of the last bad year 2017/18
Professor Susan Hopkins, Senior Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: “It is important to reduce the spread of infection in schools and other educational and childcare settings.
“If your child is sick and has a fever, they should stay home from school or daycare until they feel better and the fever is gone.”
She also encouraged parents to teach young people good hand hygiene at home by regularly washing their hands with soap and warm water.
Children should also be told to catch coughs and sneezes in tissues and then throw them in the bin to prevent the spread of disease, Professor Hopkins said.
The “back-to-school advisory” also said that adults who are unwell should stay home and wear a face covering if they have to go outside.
People who are sick should only visit health facilities when it is “urgent” and avoid those who are at risk, it said.
The UKHSA is also urging parents to ensure that eligible children – including all primary school children, some secondary school children and two and three year olds – get a flu vaccine by 31 August 2022.
The latest data shows that as of November, only 48 percent of elementary school children received a flu shot. However, utilization is higher than last year, when only 40 percent was injected.
However, hospital admissions due to flu remain high among young people, with 19 in every 100,000 children under four being cared for by the NHS for the virus.
Professor Hopkins said: “Flu vaccination remains available to all eligible groups and is the best protection against the virus.
“We have seen good uptake in older age groups, but vaccination among young children remains low.
“The flu can be very uncomfortable and in some cases lead to a more serious illness.
“By getting your child vaccinated, you’re protecting them and others they come into contact with, and it’s not too late.”
In addition to the flu wave, the Covid values are also increasing.
The latest surveillance data shows that 1.4 percent of 2- to 10-year-olds, 2.2 percent of 11- to 16-year-olds and 2.5 percent of 17- and 18-year-olds were infected in the week ending December 9.
Covid has seen four hospital admissions for every 100,000 children under the age of four.
And cases of scarlet fever, an infection caused by Strep A bacteria, are also soaring.
UKHSA data shows there were almost 34,000 cases in England on 25 December. The value is seven times higher than the level of the last bad year 2017/18.
The usually mild bacterial infection has led to 30 child deaths in the UK due to an extremely rare complication called invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS).
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
