Springtime is one of the most exciting times of the year. Warm and sunny days replace cold and snow-covered wintery afternoons as the flowers in your backyard finally begin to bloom. But as with any season, even the springtime isn’t exempt from the occasional illness or two.
Because spring follows the winter, this season experiences many of the same commonly shared illnesses that afflict individuals during the colder winter days. The temperatures may begin to rise, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take extra precaution to keep you and your family safe as well.
Spring is a season of activity and growth — two activities your family should share in, too. Be sure to keep an eye out for the following common springtime illnesses and ways to avoid them so that you can enjoy the season with a great sense of well-being, too.
1. Gastroenteritis
Everyone gets the occasional upset stomach every now and again. But if you find that your child is complaining of more discomfort every day, you may just have a case of gastroenteritis — or the stomach bug — on your hands.
Gastroenteritis comes in a variety of forms, but norovirus is the one that seems to sweep through day care centers and public schools with the most ease. If you or your child shows signs of vomiting, diarrhea, or sharp stomach pains, be sure to cut fatty and sugary foods out of your diet for the time being. Stick to the BRAT diet, which helps reduce irritation in your stomach while controlling your troublesome symptoms of gastroenteritis, too.
As with any other contagious virus, remember to incorporate proper handwashing and sanitization guidelines into your everyday routine. Have a disinfectant on hand and keep your family’s immune system healthy with vitamin-rich and nutritional meals.
Read Next | A Few Tricks to Fight Off Cold Season
2. The Common Cold
Did you know that if you have a child in your household in school, their risk of contracting a cold can be as high as twelve times per year — a factor which inevitably heightens your risk of contracting illnesses, too?
The common cold is, well, common. This means that, unfortunately, even the blossoming and sunnier environments of springtime see their fair share of sniffles and coughing, too.
Safeguard your home against the common cold by washing your hands often — especially in public spaces.
Advise your children to avoid touching their mouth, eyes, and nose, too. Try incorporating an immune support tablet into your daily regime to keep your health in optimal shape as well.
3. Strep Throat
If you’ve ever had strep throat before, you know how essential it is to prevent it from forming ever again. From swollen lymph nodes to excessive throat pain and discomfort, strep throat can certainly put a damper on all of your springtime plans and activities if contracted.
If you’re unsure whether you or someone in your family has a simple cold or strep throat, doctors recommend you ask yourself two fundamental questions to differentiate the two. First, do you have a cough? Secondly, do you have a fever? It’s essential to know that temperatures are a standard side effect of strep throat, while coughs are not. After you distinguish what type of illness is bothering you, it’s easier to find the right treatment plan to rejuvenate your health with ease.
Because strep throat spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, and touching objects that may contain the saliva of an infected individual, be sure to keep disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer with you within your home.
4. The Flu
You might think the winter is also synonymous with flu season, but springtime also comes with the risk of contracting this unwanted illness, too.
Spring puts you at risk of contracting the flu because this virus responds well to humidity — a condition which unfortunately becomes common during the spring. The temperatures begin to rise, but the coughing, body aches, and fevers remain steady.
To protect your family against this virus, remember to incorporate healthy proteins, fibers, and vitamins into your everyday eating routines. The best preventative to take against contracting this unwanted illness is to ensure your family gets vaccinated every year, too.
A simple shot and a few preventative measures can ward off countless days spent laying on the coach so that you can get up and go while enjoying the fresh spring air instead.
5. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
If you notice your child rubbing their eyes with discomfort followed by redness and inflammation, you may have a case of pink eye on your hands. While springtime often causes allergies and can induce similar symptoms, realize that pink eye is contagious and should be treated as soon as possible.
And pink eye can very quickly turn into pink eyes, too. While bacterial conjunctivitis refers to the infection of one eye, viral conjunctivitis is an even more contagious disease that starts in one eye and quickly spreads to the other.
Read Next | Everything You Need to Know about Avoiding and Treating Pink Eye in Kids
If you or anyone in your family begins to exhibit signs of viral draining, redness, or discharge, then consult a doctor for the appropriation medication to treat the bacteria causing discomfort.
Because this illness is common in child and easily spread within schools, remember to teach your children healthy handwashing practices while advising them to refrain from touching their eyes throughout the day, too.
Spring is a time of growth so make sure your family flourishes, too. With a knowledge of spring’s common illnesses and an understanding of the measures that prevent them, you can ensure your family stays safe and sound anytime of the year — spring included.
Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations, cultures, and styles, while communicating these endeavors through her passion for writing and expression. Her love for the world around her is portrayed through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. You can find her on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
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