Children Should Not Be Sent to School at a Possible Sign of Illness

TÜSAD Pediatric Chest Diseases Working Group President Prof. Dr. Ayşe Tana Aslan gave important advice to parents whose concerns were increasing with the opening of schools as well as the approach of winter.

Stating that children should not be sent to school in case of a possible symptom in addition to warnings such as hygiene, nutrition, and clean air, Aslan said to the school administration and teachers, "You should direct the children with signs of illness to the health institution".

All over the world and in our country, COVID-19 disease continues to pose a serious risk in terms of public health with its increasing number of patients. Schools opened in this environment require extra precautions in terms of parents, teachers and school management. Respiratory Research Association of Turkey (TRS) to the health of all children in this period zamEmphasizing that more attention should be paid than the current one, he reminded the rules that must be followed until an effective treatment method or vaccine is developed. TÜSAD Pediatric Chest Diseases Working Group President Prof. Dr. Ayşe Tana Aslan, explaining the importance of informing children about the pandemic, emphasized that they should not be sent to school when a possible sign of illness is seen.

PANDEMIC EDUCATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO CHILDREN AT HOME

Prof. Dr. Ayşe Tana Aslan stated that parents should provide education about masks, distance and hygiene to their children in their homes, and made the following important reminders to parents:

• Parents have as many jobs as teachers. Same at home since the beginning of the pandemic zamParents who are currently supporting as teachers will also act as their children's COVID-19 protection educators. They should give information about washing their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and the use of hand sanitizer. They should be informed not to touch their hands on their face, eyes, ears and chin.
• They should be taught not to share school items, glasses, water bottles with others. Again, children should warn them to pay attention to the distance rule between lessons as well as during the lesson.
• Children with symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and children with possible or confirmed COVID contact should not be sent to school.
• Children should be taught to use handkerchiefs while coughing, sneezing, or sneezing into the elbow.
• Hygiene has a special importance on the return from school. Children returning from school should wash their hands and change their clothes when they come home. Clothes need to be washed well. Care should be taken in the disinfection of toilets and toilets, and hygiene conditions should be given importance in the home.

BIG JOB FOR SCHOOL MANAGEMENT AND TEACHERS

Expressing that children can forget about masks, distance and hygiene training at home and at school, Aslan shared the following information for the school administration and teachers:

• A lot of work falls on the school administration and teachers. They served with the educational ideal for years, and now they need to be guided on hygiene issues due to the pandemic.
• It is known that school children need to use masks to prevent COVID-19 transmission. It is important to warn children with the appropriate language and to provide students with missing masks and disinfectants. Students should be guided to change masks from time to time, and to change masks that are dropped or dirty.
• It is already known the importance of respecting masks, distance and hygiene rules in the classroom, not shopping for goods and food, airing the classes frequently, and placing students in the classroom at least one meter away.
• Detailed information and repetitive trainings on social distance, students and employees' use of masks and compliance with them are required.
• Observation is an important behavior during the pandemic. Children with signs of illness should be evaluated quickly and directed to the infirmary or health institution.

COVID-19'FLOUR SHIELD STRONG IMMUNITY

Stating that the prevalence of COVID-19 disease in children is less than adults and it is reported to have a milder course, Aslan said, “However, children are infected from each other, especially school staff; It has the potential to be a serious source of infection for teachers, other school staff, as well as parents and other family elders in the home. "Older teachers and school staff and those with underlying diseases are at higher risk for COVID-19."

Emphasizing that a strong immunity is one of the first conditions for it to act as a shield against COVID-19, Aslan continued his words as follows: “Children should be provided with an appropriate diet containing protein, carbohydrate, fat and vitamins for a healthy diet. No additional supplements are needed. If vitamin and mineral deficiencies are detected in this period as in the pre-pandemic period, support can be given to them.

Aslan also noted that many factors such as the regional prevalence of COVID-19, children's access to school, children's underlying disease conditions, as well as the age and underlying disease states of family members with whom they live at home, the physical capacity of the schools they attend, and the adaptation to social distance rules. He also pointed out that it should be kept in front of him.