Back-to-School Illnesses: Common Symptoms Every Parent Should Know

Navigate back-to-school season by learning to spot common symptoms, manage mild illnesses at home, and know exactly when it's time to see a professional.

When kids head back to school, they share classrooms, supplies, and germs, so a wave of coughs, sore throats, and fevers is normal. These germs can also infect younger siblings and new babies in the family. Most of these illnesses are mild and clear up at home. This guide helps you recognize the common ones, know when to keep your child home, and understand when a visit to urgent care (or, in rare cases, the ER) makes sense.

CTA: Find your nearest NextCare clinic 

Every fall, the start of school brings the same predictable surge in illnesses. While parents may be concerned, it’s a normal part of building an immune system. Closer contact with other children just means germs spread more easily. The goal is to help you feel confident about what you're seeing and take the guesswork out of distinguishing between regular school germs and serious illnesses.

Here are the conditions parents ask about most, what to watch for, and clear signs that it's time to get your child seen by a professional.

Fever

A fever is one of the body's normal ways of fighting infection. Medically, a fever is a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. On its own, a fever isn't dangerous; how your child looks and acts matters more than the exact number.

Call your child's doctor or visit urgent care if:

• Your baby is under 3 months old and has any fever (this always needs to be checked as soon as possible).
• The fever lasts more than 24 hours in a child under 2, 
• The fever lasts more than 3 days in an older child.
• The temperature reaches 105°F (41°C).
• Your child is very hard to wake, unusually irritable, drinking very little, or has a fever with a new rash.

Most fevers can be managed at home with rest, fluids, and comfort. (See When to visit urgent care vs. the ER for the emergency signs.)

Sore throat (and signs of strep throat)

Viruses cause most sore throats and get better on their own. The question parents usually have is whether it's strep throat, which is caused by bacteria and requires treatment.

Signs that point toward strep rather than a common cold include:

• A sore throat that comes on quickly, with pain when swallowing
• Red, swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
• Swollen, tender glands in the neck
• Fever, and sometimes stomach ache, nausea, or vomiting (more common in children)

A helpful tip: Strep usually does not cause a cough, runny nose, or hoarse voice. When those are present, a virus is the more likely cause. The only way to know for sure is a rapid strep test or throat culture from a healthcare provider. If you suspect strep, urgent care can test and provide treatment the same day. Learn more on our strep throat care page. 

Cough and congestion

Coughs, stuffy noses, and congestion are classic signs of the common cold, and colds are one of the most frequent reasons kids miss school. They're almost always viral, which means antibiotics won't help, and they usually improve within a week or two with rest and fluids.

Watch for signs that a cold is turning into something more, such as trouble breathing, a fever that climbs or lingers, or wheezing. Our cold care page covers what to expect and when to see a healthcare practitioner. 

Ear pain and ear infections

Ear infections are common in younger children, especially after a cold. Older kids can tell you their ear hurts. Younger ones may just be fussy, tug at an ear, sleep poorly, or lose their appetite.

Contact a provider or visit urgent care if your child has:

• Ear pain with a fever
• Severe pain
• Fluid, pus, or blood draining from the ear

Keep in mind that an ear infection must be diagnosed in person, as the eardrum needs to be examined. Urgent care can take a look and, if needed, start treatment right away.

Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

Pink eye makes the white of the eye look pink or red and often comes with discharge, crusting on the lashes, itching, or watering. Viral and bacterial pink eye are both highly contagious and spread easily through hand-to-eye contact, which is exactly why it moves quickly through classrooms.

A newborn with pink-eye symptoms should be seen right away. For older children, a provider can diagnose and recommend treatment. Kids can often return to school once they have no fever, can practice good hygiene, and aren't in close contact with others, but check your school's specific policy.

Stomach illnesses: vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration

Stomach bugs spread fast in schools. Most cause a day or two of vomiting or diarrhea and pass on their own. The main thing to watch for is dehydration, especially in younger children, who are more at risk.

CTA: Cyclosporiasis: What to Know, When to Get Care

Early signs of dehydration include a dry or sticky mouth, fewer tears when crying, darker urine, urinating less often, and being more tired or cranky than usual.

Seek care if your child:

• Has not urinated in 6–8 hours
• Can't keep any fluids down, even small sips
• Has blood in their vomit or stool
• Seems very weak, dizzy, or unusually sleepy

Offer small, frequent sips of fluid rather than large amounts all at once.

Rashes

Rashes are common in school-age kids and are usually caused by viruses. One you'll hear about regularly is hand, foot, and mouth disease, usually a fever followed by mouth sores and a rash on the palms and soles. It's very contagious but typically clears on its own in 7 to 10 days.

Have a rash checked if it comes with a fever, spreads quickly, blisters, or looks like purple or red spots that don't fade when you press on them. That last sign needs urgent attention.

When should a child stay home from school?

A good general rule is to keep your child home when they have a fever, are vomiting, have diarrhea, or feel too unwell to take part in the day.

Specifically for fever, children should be fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine before going back. Giving medicine to lower a fever and sending them in isn't recommended; the fever-free window should happen on its own. Always follow your school’s guidelines when it comes to handling sick children. Your local health department may also have additional policies, so it's worth checking that too.

When to visit urgent care vs. when to seek emergency care

Urgent care is a good fit for the everyday illnesses above when your child needs to be seen but isn't in danger: fevers, sore throats and strep testing, ear pain, pink eye, mild stomach bugs, minor rashes, and small injuries or sprains. NextCare offers walk-in visits, and many common illnesses can even be handled from home through virtual care. 

Go to the ER or call 911 right away if your child has any of these emergency signs:

• Trouble breathing — working hard to breathe, ribs pulling in with each breath, wheezing, or breathing much faster than normal
• Skin, lips, or face turning pale, gray, or blue
• So much difficulty that they can barely speak or cry
• A stiff neck, a seizure, or being very hard to wake
• Signs of severe dehydration, or a rash of purple spots that don't fade with pressure
• Any fever in a baby under 3 months old

If your child doesn't have any of the red-flag signs above but you'd still feel better having them checked, trust your instincts; your local NextCare Urgent Care team is here to help. Find a location near you. 

Frequently asked questions

---

This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have concerns about your child's health, contact a healthcare provider. In an emergency, call 911.

---