Your questions on children's health as they return to school have been answered by Livi's expert, Dr Rhianna McClymont

[JustineBMumsnet]

Please note, questions have been answered and the expert is no longer available to answer new questions.

With the much-anticipated return to school now a reality, many parents have concerns about their children’s health. Whether your concerns are typical of any year or related to the effect of coronavirus, Dr Rhianna McClymont - Livi’s Lead GP - is here to help answer your questions.

Here’s some more info about Dr Rhianna McClymont: “Dr McClymont achieved a First Class Honours in Medicine. She then hit the ground running, carrying out medical, surgical and paediatric training at a number of prestigious London teaching hospitals, before specialising in General Practice. She has worked in a GP surgery in North London, and taken roles in urgent care settings, health-assessment clinics, and a digital healthcare company. Today, she works for Livi as a Lead GP as well as giving her time to the NHS.”

Here’s what Livi has to say: “If you’re a busy parent, being able to get medical advice quickly when one of your family is ill can be a real lifeline. Livi lets you see a registered GP quickly by video, at a time and place that suits you. Appointments are available seven days a week – usually within minutes, or you can book up to a week in advance. Our friendly, professional GPs can give you medical advice and prescriptions for a wide range of symptoms. You can use Livi for your children aged between 2 and 16 years old. Just register your child through the app and get instant access to medical advice when they’re feeling unwell – all without leaving home.”

So whether you’re worried about your little one’s skin rash, allergies or possible exposure to COVID-19 back at school, ask Dr McClymont your questions about children’s health.

Dr McClymont will be back between 16th and 21st September to answer your questions.

All who share a question on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw where three lucky Mumsnet users will each win a £100 Amazon voucher.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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*Please note this thread does not constitute personal medical advice, and please do not disclose personal health information on this forum. You should always speak to a GP/healthcare professional in person for advice specific to your situation.

My daughter has a nut allergy, she had a blood test to confirm so(after 2 episodes at A&E and 2 years of me asking). Our GP hasn't been very helpful and google is a minefield. Would the test have been for nuts in general or just peanuts? On the 2 occasions that she has had a reaction, they were both peanuts.

School are asking for more clarification but I can't even get through to our gp to speak to them

My daughter has just started high school and has started her period an along with it has got acne on her back an face. Do you have any tips of what I can use on her acne?

@Spices001

My DD has returned to secondary school - from Monday a rule is being Implemented for pupils to wear masks. My DD is asking why this is necessary now (when not before) & how can it help (after the horse has bolted so to speak)?

Mask wearing is a decision for individual schools guided by government advice so I cannot help you with a ‘why now’ question. If you are struggling to explain things to your daughter I would suggest you explain that covid-19 is a new disease that we are constantly learning new information about and consequently decisions and rationale will evolve as new research comes to light. Most of us have never lived through a pandemic before, and so rules and regulations will naturally change as people learn more about this disease and how it spreads. Mask-wearing was not thought to be as important at the start of this epidemic, but as research into spread was carried out we have learned that it is vital to controlling the rise in numbers. For a specific answer as to why her school has introduced it now you will have to speak to the school itself.

@NICH7

I am concerned about the excess use of hand sanitizer, not just in schools but everywhere we go. Will bacteria become even more resistant and mutate to a stronger virus?

Bacterial resistance is a concern, but one that is more closely linked with antibiotic use rather than hand sanitizer. We must concentrate on current risk at the moment however, and hand sanitizer is an effective measure against controlling the covid-19 virus and must take priority during a pandemic.

@daddy35

I am most concerned about mental health and adapting to a changing environment. How do I best support my child and their mental health?

It is certainly a scary time for children filled with lots of change, uncertainty and worry. Make sure you’re talking to your child regularly about any worries he/she has about the news, school, relatives or the general situation. Also ensure that your child knows who to talk to at school if he/she has a problem or concern. Let your child ask questions rather than giving too much information in one go, and try and be supportive and reassuring while still giving the facts. Remember that although it is very scary, children are very unlikely to become seriously unwell from covid-19 so make sure your child knows this in case they are worried about their own health.

@blondie123c

What will happen when we go on holiday next year planned for Easter break, will my child have to self isolate from school up to 14 days?

I am afraid this is impossible to answer. Easter is a long way away, and the situation seems to be changing rapidly every few weeks - let alone every few months. You will have to wait and see, and follow the government directions on any self-isolation guidelines at that time.

@Florentina

My grand daughter has not yet eaten anything with nuts. should we introduce them slowly into her diet now that she is starting school?

Has she had a reaction to nuts in the past, or is there a particular reason she has not had nuts previously? If she has a known allergy or has had a previous reaction then you should have a plan from your GP or allergist and please follow this. If there is no history of concern with nuts, then yes, it is sensible that nuts are introduced to her while she is being supervised and can be watched for any reaction.

@janeyf1

My DD has mock exams coming in November. She is getting anxious already, especially having missed a long period of schooling and found it hard to concentrate with online education. Any tips on helping her cope and concentrate in the lead up to the exams?

Reassure her that it’s natural for her to feel worried given everything that’s happened this year and the big changes that have occurred at school. All of her peers are in the same boat so to speak, so she should not be behind them in terms of learning and there is no reason to think she should do worse in her exams. Is there a trusted teacher at the school that can reassure her and give her more support?

@Gallant1

My 2.5 year old has some cafe de lait marks appearing, he gets a new one every couple of months how many do I let him get before I take him to the doctors?

Café-au-lait macules often develop shortly after birth and are usually harmless. If your child has 6 or more macules, particularly if these are larger than 5mm, then he should be reviewed by a doctor as multiple café-au-lait macules can be a sign of an underlying condition.

@rocketriffs

My 10 yr old son has terrible anxiety when it comes to going out, getting on buses, trains etc and generally around people. We had only just managed to get him into a special school after he spent over a year absent from normal primary school. After many months of lockdown he is back at square one again. Have you any tips that might help his anxieties about returning to school and travelling on public transport.

Playing games involving transport, or rehearsing what to do to get on transport, while at home can be helpful if he is particularly anxious about this. Now that masks are required on public transport it would be a good idea to practice using these to make him comfortable with the idea. Letting him choose his own mask, or decorating one, can help children find them less scary. However, your son’s anxiety sounds quite severe and so I would also advocate that he get additional support through the child’s mental health team if he has not already been referred to them. A child psychologist should be able to help him combat some of his anxiety. Your GP would be able to arrange a referral for you if you have not already discussed this with them.

@momaguevara

My daughter keeps getting verrucas on her feet - she has 12 on one foot alone. We've tried having them frozen off, which is so painful, she doesn't want to go down that route before. I've tried the gels you can buy and whilst the top layers of skin come off, the root reminds. Any suggestions on what to do about these? (Interestingly, when I was a child, I was the same. Haven't had a verruca now since my late teens).

Verrucas are common in childhood and most usually spontaneously resolve within a few years – which, interestingly, is probably what happened with your own. Salicylic acid from the pharmacy is useful and this comes in regular and extra-strength which you may wish to try. There are also home-cryotherapy kits which she may find less painful and distressing than a podiatrist doing standard cryotherapy. It sounds old-fashioned, but duct tape can also work wonders! Apply a piece of duct tape to the verruca so that it completely covers the area and leave it in place for a week. Remove, and file down gently with an emery board and then replace the duct tape for a further week. You’ll need to continue this for approximately 4-6 weeks. It works even better when combined with salicylic acid treatment in addition.

@Njwammer36

Are there any vaccinations or medical concerns you would advice or recommend to teenagers leaving home to go to University ? Or to parents concerned about their child going to University? I have heard about something but not sure what or why they have it. Thanks x

As long as your child has had all of the vaccinations recommended on the standard immunisations schedule, then there are no further vaccines that I would recommend and they should be well protected.

@Tkw2014

I keep seeing things about Vitamin D as a preventative against Covid-19 so should I be giving my child a daily vitamin D tablet?

There was a lot of talk about vitamin D being a preventative for covid-19 at the beginning of the epidemic, but research studies into this have failed to find a definitive link and therefore I would not advocate taking extra vitamin D to protect against covid-19. However, adults, and children from the age of 1, need 10micrograms of vitamin D a day. During the summer months, most people will be able to gain enough vitamin D through sunlight and their diet. However, during the winter months (October-March), many children and adults will not be able to generate sufficient vitamin D from sunlight. Therefore, supplements, particularly during these months, can be beneficial and you should look for a dose containing 10micrograms a day (or equivalent) if this is something you are interested in. These are available from most pharmacies or supermarkets and come in various different forms – drops, lozenges or chewable tablets. A pharmacist would be able to help you pick a suitable tablet.

@Yaracuy

Would you talk us through the various theories on the Covid-19 shot? What we read it's scary to say the least. Would it be worth it to put my family at risk?

There are multiple vaccines currently being developed across the world, and many of these work in slightly different ways to generate an immune response so I will not go into the scientific specifics of how they work. However, all vaccines have to jump through rigorous safety hoops and tests before they are allowed to be mass-distributed. Currently a number of vaccines are going through these safety tests at the moment – what is termed ‘phase-3 trials’ -where the vaccine is tested on humans and these volunteers monitored closely to ensure the vaccine actually works and that it does not cause these people any adverse effects. If a side effect occurs the trial will be paused while medical investigations are carried out before it is deemed safe to continue. Currently, certain covid-19 vaccines are being developed more quickly than other vaccines have been in the past - but this does not mean they are unsafe. Covid-19 as a virus has very close similarities to other viruses (such as SARS which caused an outbreak in 2003, and MERS which caused an outbreak in 2012). Scientists have adapted already proven safe and effective vaccines for these other diseases which have gone through multiple rounds of safety tests and years of evaluation. As such, a lot of the groundwork for building the new covid-19 vaccine has already been completed - which is why some of these vaccines may be available in a much quicker time period than we are used to when making a new vaccine. It is also helpful that the majority of the world is single-mindedly focused on making a vaccine or treatment for covid-19; something that has not happened before in medicine!

@MakeTeaNotWar

Are there any supplements that you can recommend to help boost my children's immune systems?

If a child has a healthy, varied, diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, diary and meat then they should be getting all the vitamins and minerals they need from food and do not need any extra supplementation. The exception to this can be vitamin D over the winter months, as some research has shown that adults and children struggle to source enough vitamin D from sunlight and diet between the months of October-March. Adults, and children from the age of 1, need 10micrograms of vitamin D a day. If you would like to give a vitamin D supplement over the winter months then this can be sourced from any pharmacy and come in a variety of forms – chewable tablets, lozenges or drops.

@katieskatie82

my eldest son was diagnosed with asthma at the start of the year. I'm really keen for him to get a flu vaccination before winter. Is it a nasal vaccination or an injection he would need at the age of 12? thanks!

It would be the nasal spray. This year, the flu vaccine will be available on the NHS for all children aged 2 or 3 on 31 August 2020, all primary school children, all year 7 children, and all children aged 2-17yrs with long term health condition.

@Shzy

My little boy who is only 4 keeps getting really dry hands after I get him to wash his hands with hand wash. I have tried really rich hand cream but his hands are still dry

Frequent hand washing, particularly with soap, and frequent use of hand sanitizer can dry out the skin and make it more likely to become red, dry, cracked and sore. I would recommend using a good emollient (moisturizer) cream after every hand wash and at various times throughout the day to keep the skin in good condition. Moisturising approximately 2-3 times a day in addition to after hand-washing should be sufficient for a child without eczema. A pharmacist should be able to help you choose a product suitable for you as there are many different and effective products avaliable - some of my favourites include cetraben, oilatum, diprobase and dermol.

@Beckychel

One of my twin boys has 3 varuccas on one foot. He keeps saying they are hurting and isn’t walking right on them. I’ve been trying to treat them at home and there is a little improvement but they are horrible things!

Verrucas are irritating, but common in childhood - and most usually spontaneously resolve within a 1-2 years. Salicylic acid from the pharmacy is useful and this comes in regular and extra-strength which you may wish to try. There are also home-cryotherapy kits which 'freeze' the verruca and many of my patients have found helpful. It sounds old-fashioned, but duct tape can also work wonders! Apply a piece of duct tape to the verruca so that it completely covers the area and leave it in place for a week. Remove, and file down gently with an emery board and then replace the duct tape for a further week. You’ll need to continue this for approximately 4-6 weeks. It works even better when combined with salicylic acid treatment in addition.

@voyager50

My 10 year old has mild asthma - is he more likely to suffer breathing problems if he gets covid 19?

So far the evidence shows that the vast majority of children who contract covid-19 have a very mild disease and recover well. Having mild asthma should not put him at significantly increased risk.

@PutThemInTheIronMaiden

My daughter has a history (as most children do) of sniffles and sneezes when she has a mild cold. She's also happy to go to school as she doesn't like to miss out unless she's very unwell. Would I be wise to keep her off if she has a mild cold in the current climate?

It depends on her symptoms – if her presumed cold gives her symptoms of either a new temperature, new continuous cough or new loss of taste and smell then she is required to self-isolate for 10 days and needs a covid-19 test. If her symptoms are purely a runny nose then she is allowed to go to school. However, it may be wise to keep her at home anyway as colds spread quickly among children, and many children with a cold will exhibit the symptoms above which would require self-isolation and testing. Therefore, other parents may thank you for keeping her at home with a cold. This is a personal decision however, and you will need to take into account her schooling and educational needs.

@alwaysataldi

My son gets cold sores in the winter around his lips usually (he has ASD and I think it's due to the stress he feels). Will wearing a mask - and the moist environment around the mouth area make the cold sores spread more ? He's just gone back to school and has 2 cold sores already.

As far as I am aware, there is no evidence so far to link face masks with an increased frequency of cold sores. However, there is research to link stress and cold sores – so it is likely that the change of routine with return to school, and stress he may be feeling as a consequence of this, has caused an outbreak.

@Montydoo

I have heard that the skin rash appears after a Covid infection (one of the final stages) is this true, where does the Covid rash appear, what should I look out for - and does the Covid rash appear if the case is 'asymptomatic' thanks

Skin rashes have been known to appear in patients with covid-19 but do not appear in every case, can appear as the only symptom or as part of a multitude of symptoms, can appear anywhere (although appear more commonly on the feet), and in various different forms/as different types of rash. Basically, there is no ‘one-rash fits all’ when it comes to covid-19 which has led to difficulties in classifying a particular rash as a ‘covid-19 rash’.

@ThemisA

There is increasing evidence that our gut flora have an effect on both physical and mental health. What can parent's do to optimise our children's gut health?

Making sure your child has a varied, and healthy, diet is really all you need to be doing. It should include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, meat and dairy. There are various probiotic and ‘gut-healthy supplements’ available over the counter and online, but I would not advocate using these in a child. Avoid too much sugar, processed foods and fast-foods. If your child is eating freshly prepared, healthy food, their gut should be healthy too!

@ohdannyboy

Both my children have eczema, and have dry skin and rashes on their legs and elbows, I use emollients and this condition is managed - would I still see a Covid rash (if they have no other symptoms - a cold can cause loss of taste - and give some of the symptoms) School have just said keep off if there are any symptoms - I am worried I won't spot Covid in and amongst the other conditions and winter ailments - any advise - feeling very anxious atm.

There is no specific ‘covid-19 rash’ as various types of rashes have been associated with covid-19 so do not rely on this as a sign of coronavirus. The key symptoms to look out for are either a new temperature, new continuous cough or new loss of taste and smell. If this happens, even if you think it is just a cold as she also has a runny nose, then she is still required to self-isolate for 10 days and needs a covid-19 test.