Dr Steven Donohue shares top health tips for parents as children prepare to return to the classroom

A North Queensland doctor is urging parents to ensure their child’s immunisations are up to date and they’re skilled up in hand washing ahead of the back-to-school rush where sickness can run rife.

A North Queensland doctor is urging parents to ensure their child’s immunisations are up to date and they’re skilled up in hand washing ahead of the back-to-school rush where sickness can run rife.

Infectious diseases can spread through schools like wildfire, Townsville Public Health Unit Director Dr Steven Donohue says.

“Schools are places where kids come into very close contact with other children and you get a lot of spread of infectious diseases,” he said.

“Last year we saw a dramatic increase in whooping cough cases, but all three of the common respiratory diseases, influenza, Covid, and whooping cough, have vaccines.”

Dr Donohue said the free school immunisation program was a vital element to keeping kids safe from diseases.

Dr Donohue at the Townsville University Hospital. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“In Year 7, a combined whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus booster, along with HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer, are offered in all schools,” he said.

“In Year 10, there are two immunisations for different types of meningococcal, a rare but very serious disease.”

“Please make sure you complete your child’s consent paperwork and if your child is absent from school that day, the free doses are still available at your local child health clinic or GP.”

Young children should also be shown how and why washing hands after going to the toilet and before eating food was so important and practice sneezing into their elbows instead of their hands, Dr Donohue said.

Alongside other illnesses, the spreading of head lice is also common in the classroom and can be hard to treat.

“The problem with lice is that they spread very easily on clean hair, and they have become resistant to many of the chemical treatments,” he said.

Dr Donohue is urging parents to ensure their children's immunisations are up to date to prevent the spread of infectious diseases around schools.

“The best treatment now is to use products that drown them so either use conditioning and combing or dimethicone, a product which smothers the lice, available from the chemist,” Dr Donohue said.

Building a strong and healthy immune system is important for any child which is why it’s important they eat nutritious foods, especially for school lunches, drink plenty of water and gain the right amount of sleep.

“Children need food that gives them the right nutrients for growth and immunity, including fruits like watermelon, bananas, grapes, and berries which are easily packed in a lunch box,” Dr Donohue said.

Originally published as Dr Steven Donohue shares top health tips for parents as children prepare to return to the classroom