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.

@ErinSophia

Should I get the flu vaccine for my children before they return to ?

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. Yes, I would advise that any child eligible on the above criteria receive the flu vaccine.

@Bigboytyson

My daughter who is 9 has bad body odour, I know her body is changing and she is wearing deodorant. When she is at home she can deodorise & wash her armpits regularly if she needs to but how can we help her when she is at school? She has a roll on in her school bag but every day she comes home and she smells. I don't want her to be picked on or bullied as she is at that age when this will happen. Any advise is greatly appreciated. Thank you

This sounds really tricky for you both as I can understand your fear that she will be picked on. Does she use the deodarant that she has in her school bag during the day? You could also consider a fragranced body spray that she could take into school with her if she feels the deodarant is not working well.

@HelenW151

Does the Covid test hurt, isn't the swab pushed right up the nose? My teenage son is worried about possibly needing one.

From personal experience, it is uncomfortable, but certainly not painful.

@BL0SS0M

What's the best way to prepare young children and toddlers for a covid 19 test?

For a child I suggest you explain in advance what it will entail - it will be a swab test of the throat and nose - and let them know how this will be done. It may help to watch a video with your child of what will happen so that they know and are prepared. The department of Health and Social care has released an instructional video for parents which you may find useful. You can find this on youtube with the title 'How to test your child for coronavirus (Covid-19) in the UK'.

@pinkjjf27

When my daughter was born, she had seizures,that went on till she was about 8. After many scans and investigatios docs could never find a reason. They said she would grow out of them which may have done. She is 11 now and hasn’t had one since she was 8. However, she is always up the hospital in A&E after having accidents, she’s broken her wrist 7 times since she was a baby. She is now home with her ankle very swollen after falling over in PE at school. The hospital said it was a tissue damage this time. When I show concern over how many accidents and broken bones she has had, I am told it’s because she is very active which she is, but she no more active than her siblings. Also if she gets a cold it always go to an infection, on top of that every childhood illness has always developed into complication even though her siblings fight them off quickly and she is allergic to everything.

My question is, could this be linked to her earlier seizures and should be even more concerned than I already am. Thank you

I'm sorry, but this is very difficult to answer without knowing her full medical history. I would definitely suggest chatting through her problems and your concerns with her GP in more detail however. Her GP has access to her medical records and so will be able to give you a much more thorough answer.

@theresacoo

how can I improve my children's immunity in general?

General measures for a healthy immune system include eating a varied diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of water each day, getting enough sleep each night and exercising through sport or play regularly.

@Rachdayan

Because we have all been spending so much time at home none of use have even had a sniff of a cold or other illness since the start of lockdown, I’m concerned the start of school will mean picking up bugs again and that they might be worse than usual as their immunity won’t have fought anything off for a while. Should I be worried about this and is there anything I can do to help or prevent?

It is likely the return to school will mean an increase in normal childhood illnesses such as coughs and colds, yes. There is no reason these should be more severe however, and your child should be able to fight them off and recover as in previous years. General measures for a healthy immune system include eating a varied diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of water each day, getting enough sleep each night and exercising through sport or play regularly.

@ailsasheldon

How are we going to get the kids back to school when they have covid symptoms if we can’t access swabs locally at all. ( experience this week in Norfolk!)

Not a question I can solve I'm afraid! I share your frustration, and we can all only hope the government sorts out the testing system as quickly as possible. If you are unable to get a test for your child however you will have to continue to self-isolate for the full 10 days for the symptomatic child and 14 days for everyone else in the household.

@BumblebeeBum

Hi. My 6 year old daughter seems to have forgotten a lot of what she learnt before lock down, even forgetting everything going to ballet when she went every week for months before lockdown.

How do I help her deal with this? Gently remind her of pre lock down life or just ignore?

Everyone has had a long break out of their normal daily routine, so it's not unexpected that children will have forgotten previous routines. I suspect she'll adjust and remember them fairly quickly now that school and extra-curricular classes are returning, so you don't need to do anything specific.

@Burritka

I am wondering how it is going to work with children showing signs of coronavirus for example coughing? I understand child is sent to a 14 days quarantine ? Would parents also have to isolate ? Would child be tested for the virus and how invasive is the actual swab ?Can you deny testing ? Thank you in advance :)

Any new temperature, new continuous cough or new loss of taste and smell in a child requires a covid test. You can arrange this via www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or via calling 119. The whole household needs to self-isolate until the results of the test are known. You can refuse to have a test, but if you do so the whole household will have to self-isolate for 14 days. The test involves a swab inserted into one nostril and to the back of the throat. It can be uncomfortable, but is certainly not painful.

@Pjran

My DIL has a child in her class that spits other than telling him he shouldn’t can you come up with an answer please? The parents know, I would like to say he must wear a mask but the head says no.

I have no solution for this I am afraid. It is a school behavioural issue and you would need to take it up further with the school if you are unhappy.

@CharisB

Hi, I've just seen that Boots are offering a vaccination against chickenpox - I was completely unaware that there was a vaccination available for it! I was wondering if it was worth getting for my 2 year old before she starts nursery or if it's better in the long term for her to catch chickenpox and then build up an immunity? Many thanks 😊

In most children, chicken pox is an unpleasant illness, but one that they normally recover from quickly and easily. Symptoms include an itchy, blistered rash, and is often accompanied by high temperature. It is not uncommon to get other symptoms such as a cough or runny nose at the same time. Apart from medications such as paracetamol for high temperatures no other treatment is usually required, and the child recovers with supportive care such as plenty of fluids, rest and soothing creams for the itchy lesion. However, in the current covid19 pandemic, any child that develops a temperature or new cough will be required to self-isolate with their household until they have a negative covid19 test result. As a temperature is very likely in a child with chickenpox, this ‘quarantine period’, and it’s effect on your child and rest of your family, is something you should consider when weighing up whether to purchase the vaccine. The chicken pox vaccine generates immunity in 9 out of 10 children that have a single dose given to them. It is recommended that two doses of the vaccine is given 4-8 weeks apart, and this would confer even higher immunity still. As such, having the vaccine would significantly reduce your child’s chances of contracting chickenpox and having to self-isolate. It is worth noting that having the chicken pox vaccination does not 100% guarantee that your child will not catch chickenpox – although if this does occur the illness itself is usually significantly milder (i.e. far fewer spots, or reduced chance of a temperature) and of a shorter duration than would normally be expected in an unvaccinated child.

@patchysmum

Should we give children vitamin tablets to boost their immune system to help protect them from catching the virus

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.

@barbsbarbs

How do I help build up my childs immune system this winter?

General measures for a healthy immune system include eating a varied diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of water each day, getting enough sleep each night and exercising through sport or play regularly.

@seeingdouble2

My child is 12 is it worth giving them daily vitamins or not, they always seems to have a constant cold from Sept - Jan?

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. As your child struggles particularly over the winter then this may be something you wish to consider.

@arat

What's the score with sports like swimming? Does this carry any increased risk? If I'm concerned by the risk, is this a valid reason to withdraw DC from that activity?

I am not aware that swimming, in particular, increases risk of transmission of covid-19. Obviously, the same social distancing guidelines should be adhered to that apply elsewhere and with other sports. If you are talking about withdrawal from school organised swimming lessons then you should discuss your concerns with your child's individual school.

@minkeymonkeys

My 10 year old son had an ear infection and perforated ear drum last year and now he feels his hearing has been affected. The GP says we should wait a bit longer and it should return. Is this right?

Usually, ear drum perforations heal spontaneously - although the time taken for this to happen can vary from several weeks to several months. However, in some cases this spontaneous healing does not happen and if a ear membrane perforation becomes chronic and does not heal (and it is causing the child hearing problems) then a small operation can be performed to fix the eardrum. When did your son's GP last examine his ear? If this has not been performed recently then I suggest you book a further review with your child's GP to check whether the eardrum has healed fully or not.

@allipratt

My son has constant loose poo’s and now he’s starting school I’m concerned how he’ll clean himself properly when he goes. I’ve spoken to the doctors and they’re not concerned as he’s a normal weight and height. However it’s not normal, so I wondered if there’s anything I should do.

Everyone has a slightly different bowel habit - with some more prone to constipation and some more prone to looser stools. However, if you feel your son's bowel motions are abnormal then you should certainly speak to your GP again who could run some simple investigations to exclude any underlying bowel issues.

@Nicole1709

Do you have any resources or advice for anxiety in younger children due to COVID?

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.

@pfcpompeysarah

My son is prone to migraines, and especially during term time, we have replaced his glasses but is there anything else I can do to minimise the risk of attacks and as a result, time off school.

Make sure he is eating regular meals and drinking plenty of water as dehydration can predispose to headaches. Also try and make sure he has a good sleep regime and try and mitigate any stresses or anxieties he is feeling, as both stress and lack of sleep can trigger migraines. Some foods can also act as triggers for migraines – chocolate and citrus fruit, as well as foods containing the substance tyramine (which includes cured meats, yeast extracts, pickled herrings, smoked fish and certain cheeses like cheddar, stilton and camembert). If the migraines are causing him severe distress or to miss large amounts of school then I would definitely recommend a review by his GP as a prescription for migraine medication may be needed.

@blue25

Do you think it’s safe to take part in extracurricular activities such as music lessons & ballet?

There is no blanket answer to this. You need to speak to the extra-curricular classes you are interested in and ensure they are following all the current hygiene and social distancing guidelines that are currently recommended.

@freefan

My daughter is due to get the flu spray up her nose at school which of course is a good thing, I used to think but now I'm wondering if it's working against her natural immune system and makes her more prone to pick up other bugs and more worrying Covid? I am having an inner argument with myself as to what is the best and would really appreciate any advice. x

The flu vaccine will not work against her natural immune system or make her more susceptible to covid-19. It will simply provide her protection against a number of different strains of influenza. There are multiple strains of flu virus and it cannot protect her against them all, so it will not guarantee that she will not catch flu – but it will certainly reduce her chances. Flu can make some children very unwell, and they can spread it to other adults within the household who can also become very unwell, so any extra protection against catching influenza is certainly worthwhile!

@ConquestEmpireHungerPlague

I'm curious to know where you trained, Dr McClymont. The blurb at the top of the thread says you have "a First Class Honours in Medicine" (sic) but as far as I know that's not a thing - UK medicine degrees are unclassified. Does it mean your intercalated BSc was a first? I think honesty and transparency are really important for health care professionals, even - perhaps especially - when you are working outside the NHS, so would you like to clarify, and, if appropriate, correct, that?

I agree with you that honesty and transparency are very important traits for health care professionals. To answer your question, I trained at Nottingham University. Many universities – Nottingham included – offer a ‘pass’, ‘fail’ or ‘pass with honours’ classification for medical degrees. While at Nottingham University I achieved a Bachelor of Medical Sciences with Honours in the First Class, and a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery with Honours.

@MrsFrTedCrilly

Is it necessary to give the children a vitamin D supplement and how much should I give?

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. The NHS recommends that breastfed babies between 0-1yr receive a daily supplement of between 8.5-10micrograms vitamin D a day. Formula fed babies do not need this as formula milk is already fortified with vitamin D. Children between 1-4yrs should also be given a daily supplement containing 10micrograms of vitamin D. These are available from most pharmacies or supermarkets and come in various different forms – drops, lozenges or chewable tablets. For older children, supplementation is not routinely advised on a daily basis, but bearing in mind that most children and adults will struggle to make sufficient vitamin D over the winter months then it would be best to consider additional supplementation during this time period in particular.

@caravandreamer

My 10 yr old has a iron burn scar on his cheek (from a baby) now winter is coming the cold makes it go a angry red is there anything he can use to protect it apart from moisturising creams/body lotion?

You’ve mentioned them already, but moisturising creams are the best protection as they stop the skin becoming dry and irritated. In summer, remember to apply sun protection to the scar as some scars can be sun-sensitive. You could also consider the use of a barrier cream if it is particularly sensitive. If it becomes very irritated and inflamed then a very mild steroid cream (hydrocortisone) can be purchased over-the-counter. This should only be used in small doses and for short periods (maximum two weeks) to sooth inflammation and as a last resort as the scar is on the delicate skin area of his face. There are several treatments that dermatologists may be able to offer to reduce the appearance of scars, but these would need to be accessed privately as it would be termed ‘cosmetic treatment’.