Doctors' advice for parents before the start of school

The beginning of a new school year brings many challenges for parents. Before sending the little ones to school, there are several particularly important aspects that doctors would like every parent to know and adhere to so that the new beginning is worry-free. Therefore, Medikali specialists recommend that parents pay attention to six things to ensure a smooth transition and the best possible school year for the youngest members of the family. Georgiana Cosneanu, a family doctor, spoke about general health: "The start of a new school year is approaching, and parents' concerns are growing during this time, both in terms of providing their children with everything they need for school and regarding their health since, with the return to the community, children are at risk of contracting seasonal viruses. Therefore, it would be useful to have a set of tests performed on children that provide an overview of their overall health, including: complete blood count, serum iron and calcium, ASLO, TGP, blood sugar, IgE and IgG immunoglobulins, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, pharyngeal and nasal swabs, and stool examination." Emotional well-being was addressed by psychologist Steliana Lefter: "For every student, whether they are in kindergarten, for whom school is a completely new experience, or starting 8th grade, for example, when they have a very important exam ahead for their future, meeting their classmates brings different thoughts depending on pleasant or unpleasant experiences from the past. These thoughts, in turn, produce corresponding emotions, whether it's joy, sadness, anger, or anxiety. It's important to accept that each of us is unique, and a positive connection with the child is the best way to prevent emotional and behavioral problems. Laurence Shapiro talks about building a connection with our children and invites us to use a calm, warm voice to convey to our children that we are interested, to use an "open" posture, and to be at the same level as our child, maintaining a comfortable distance between us and the child when interacting with them." Nutrition is very important, and nutritionist Alexandra Alexandru provided some explanations: "Time is one of the main issues when it comes to breakfast, and the tendency is to skip this very important meal and compensate later with junk food. In the case of our children, breakfast is replaced with chocolate croissants, processed foods, or overloading the evening meal, which is not at all nutritionally sound. And if the temptation is to buy something from the school courtyard kiosk, where you can find mostly pastries, ham and cheese sandwiches, and all sorts of highly processed foods, the recommendation is for these to remain as exceptions, so that your child can maintain optimal health and normal weight." Entry into the community was addressed by Victor Miron, a specialist in Pediatrics: "Every year, the return of children to communities, be it kindergarten or school, leads to an increase in the number of children with acute illnesses, most of which are respiratory. It is important that, in addition to our child's health, we are also concerned about the risk of transmitting the disease to classmates and even teachers. The signs and symptoms that indicate it would be best not to send the child to school are fever, sudden/recent onset cough, significant nasal obstruction/nasal congestion with recent onset, diarrhea, sore throat with sudden/recent onset, nausea and vomiting, or recent onset rashes. Most often, an acute respiratory or digestive infectious disease lasts for about 5-7 days. However, the period of contagiousness varies depending on the virus or bacteria that caused the disease. Therefore, the pediatrician or family doctor can determine the correct diagnosis and treatment after the consultation, as well as recommendations regarding the appropriate time to return to the community. It should be mentioned that often, after a respiratory infection, cough and nasal obstruction can persist for long periods, up to 2-3 weeks. In most cases, children are no longer contagious during this period and can return to the community without the risk of transmitting the viral infection they had." Proper posture is of great importance, explains Cezara Macovei, a physiotherapist at Medikali: "With the start of the school year, children will spend more time sitting in chairs at desks, and it is important for parents to discuss the importance of proper posture with them in an open and educational manner. It is important to emphasize that proper posture is not only for physical appearance but also for the long-term functioning of their bodies. Encourage them to be aware of their own bodies and make small adjustments during the day to maintain proper posture. Additionally, involve children in choosing furniture and setting up their desks or learning spaces to encourage a healthy posture." Ophthalmologist Oana Budileanu talked about screen exposure: "Screen dependency is a significant factor with an impact on our health, with children being at high risk since they are directly connected to the virtual world. According to the World Health Organization's recommendations, children aged 2 to 5 should limit screen time to one hour per day, and those aged 5 to 18 should not exceed 2 hours per day. If this limit is exceeded, children may experience decreased attention, social isolation, and may suffer from visual fatigue or even eye conditions such as myopia. School myopia is the most common and can occur around the age of 6-7, progressing until 21-22 years old. Parents should be attentive to signs such as unclear distance vision, headaches, photophobia, or the child's habit of squinting to see better or getting too close to screens. In addition, there is an increasingly evident link between the onset and progression of myopia and prolonged close-distance visual activity, such as reading, writing, using electronic devices, and spending time in enclosed spaces." With such advice, parents and children can approach the new school year with more success.