COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM

The Most Common Health Problems Faced by Students

1. Common Cold

Common cold is one of main health issue that students face. Every person might have suffered from
common cold at some or the other point in their lives.

Symptoms of a common cold are:

Repeated sneezing coupled with cough
A sore and irritable throat
A blocked nose

Students contact a common cold through touch or through inhaling. When you as a healthy student either
touch the eyes or nose of the infected student or inhale the germs that spread while the diseased student
sneezes, you can catch this common cold. Thus, it is the best to stay away from students with a running
nose and wash hands repeatedly to avoid any sort of contact with the germs carrying the disease. This is a
minor ailment that can get better within a few days.

2. Food Poisoning

Diarrhea and vomiting accompanied by fever with chills are the symptoms that can disrupt the health of
students who have either consumed uncovered or non-refrigerated food.

Students who have consumed contaminated food will be at a high risk to develop these symptoms which
will also lead to a general body weakness coupled with unbearable headaches. Infected students also
suffer from severe abdominal cramps.

Dehydration is another striking symptom that needs to be controlled during food poisoning. It is important to
administer clear fluids to all such students bearing the brunt of consuming contaminated food. While it is
best to avoid solid foods, you should also keep away from dairy products which can aggravate your
diseased condition.

3. Influenza (Flu)

Caused by influenza viruses that affect the respiratory tract of the patient, Influenza commonly called as Flu
is a mild to severe illness that can affect the physical health of students. Predominantly high during the flu
season between October and May, students who contact flu have symptoms like:

High temperature with a headache

Running or blocked nose
Dry cough with a sore throat
Full body fatigue caused due to muscular aches
Stomach complaints like diarrhea, vomiting or nausea

Infected students can transmit flu to healthy students when they either cough or sneeze. It is during such
times that the infected air comes in contact with healthy students and infects them as well. Tagged as
highly contagious conditions, students with flu should stay away from school for a minimum of one week or
until all the above-mentioned symptoms subside completely.
Prevention is better than cure. In line with this maxim, students can prevent or limit the spread of flu
through flu vaccinations.
4. Sprains

Students may face injuries in their ligaments while playing games. A sprain also called as the torn ligament
damages one or more ligaments that make up a joint. Students who sprain their legs, ankles, knees or
wrists will experience severe pain accompanied by an inflammation. Unable to move the injured joint, a
sprain can be very painful for students. While some of them are not-so alarming sprains, there are sprains
which might call for a surgery to fix them.

5. Bleeding Nose

Nosebleeds are common health issues faced by students who have dry nasal membranes. This condition is
common with students who pick their noses frequently. Picking the nose ruptures the blood vessels inside,
causing your nose to bleed. Students who are on anti-allergic or decongestion medication can also
experience nosebleeds along with those who are susceptible to frequent colds and sinus issues. Frequent
blowing of nose is another cause of nosebleeds. The best way to prevent a nosebleed is to ensure proper
lubrication of the nasal passages along with consciously avoiding picking the nose.

6. Meningitis
Another in-campus health issue faced by students is the spread of meningitis; a disease called by bacteria
or virus which infects the lining of the brain. Upon contact with this disease, the brain of the patient begins
to swell leading to a dangerous condition which can lead to death in severe cases. Given the fatality of this
disease, it pays for the school administration to keep a watch on the following symptoms so as to take
prompt and corrective action.

High fever accompanied by chills

An unbearable headache accompanied by pain in the neck or a stiff neck
A sore throat
Vomiting and/or nausea
Constant feeling of drowsiness along with sensitivity to light or sound
Rashes

Under severe conditions, the infected student can also experience seizures. Students who exhibit 3 or
more of the above symptoms should immediately get medical help.

7. Strep Throat

One of the most common bacteria that thrive on the skin of students is strep. Strep throat is a bacterial
infection that disturbs the throat and tonsils of infected students. Tagged as a contagious disease that
spreads through air when the infected student coughs, sneezes or breathes. Following are the symptoms of
strep throat:

A sever and all-of-a-sudden sore throat

High temperature above 101°F
Pain during swallowing
Inflamed tonsils and lymph nodes
Yellow or white spots visible on the back side of a red and inflamed throat
 
8. Measles

Despite having a vaccination for measles, students on campuses contact this health complication. Here is
the list of symptoms that you should watch out for in a patient.

A general feeling of sickness

Face and body covered with patchy red rashes
Red eyes
Intolerance or sensitivity to light

Calling the doctor is the first thing you should do to help the infected student. Administering fluids is another
means to counter the symptoms of measles while taking tablets if general body aches persist.
9. Chicken Pox

While some students would have contacted Chicken Pox during their childhood, this condition affects
others who have missed it during their early years. The symptoms of this health issue are:

Rashes which emerge as spots of 3 mm in the initial stages grow into irritable blisters, all over the body
Blisters can also show up on the scalp
High temperature

This condition affects the palate causing a discomfort to the patient while he is swallowing
Treatment includes the application of Calamine lotion to soothe the burning sensation and itching caused
by blisters. Tablets can be given to the infected student to ease him of fever and body pains.

10. Mononucleosis (Mono)

Epstein Bar is the common human virus that causes Mononucleosis, also called as Mono. Students
infected with this virus experience fever accompanied by a sore throat. Along with fatigue, the physiological
condition of inflamed lymph glands, spleen or liver can help you detect the viral complication. It is best to
keep the infected students away from playing contact games as this virus is spread through saliva. Mono is
a condition that lives in the bodies of the infected patients for life, rarely causing any other health issues.

Conclusion
All the above descriptions of health complications will help the management of schools and other
educational institutions to not only understand the severity of the complication but also administer first aid.

Allowing educators to perform frequent health assessments of their wards, the symptoms of diseases that
were highlighted above will serve as a reference guide to detect the complaint so that timely action can be
taken.

Going by the maxim that it is better to be safe than to be sorry, the management of educational institutions
can ensure the well-being of their wards by being watchful of the symptoms of health complications
discussed above.