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

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

*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.

@jacqui5366

Are there any side affects of hand sanitiser, both on the skin and if they ingest some when sanitising before eating a packed lunch ? My DS has sore hands as a result - and I am looking for an alternative ?

Frequent hand washing, particularly with soap, and frequent use of hand sanitizer can dry out the skin and make it more likely to become cracked and sore. However, there is no effective alternative as it is necessary to sanitize the hands to prevent the spread of the virus. 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. A pharmacist should be able to help you choose a product suitable for you. Hand sanitizer should not be ingested (so make sure bottles are sealed around young children who may try to drink from them). However, the amount of residue that would transfer from hands to a packed lunch and then be ingested would be miniscule and would not cause a problem.

@tobypercy

Is there any truth in the belief that letting a child sit in their wet clothes for hours will lead to them catching a cold?

No, this is a common myth but is not true. Colds are caused by viruses that we breath in, and are not related to cold weather or wet clothing.

@ILovesPeanuts

Do you think children should routinely take vitamin D? My DD13 had blood tests which identified low vitamin D which was a shock as we are outdoorsy sorts but I guess she's often covered up. Obviously she takes vitamin D now but I'm wondering if she should have before.

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.

@Crankycranium0

I'm worried about the level of stress my daughter is showing. She has only been back to school for three days and for two of those shes come home feeling sick. Shes more withdrawn now that what she was is lockdown. I'm not sure if it's to do with the nerves of going back to school after lockdown or because she has entered year nine (start of GCSE work here) . Is it worth seeing her g.p Or riding it out for another few weeks?

It is currently a very stressful time for children given all the changes that are happening in their school routines, and the worries they may have about relatives, the virus and the wider world. Make sure you give her plenty of time to talk to you about any worries she may have. Does her school have a pastoral system she could access for further support? She may be adjusting to the change of going back to school and nausea is a common symptom of anxiety. If so, things may settle as she gets used to the new routine and settles back into school. However, if her stress continues over the next few weeks then a chat with her GP would be worthwhile. There are services available for children’s mental health where she could be referred, if necessary, to a counsellor or psychologist for further support.

@Lemming20

How do we reassure kids about this ‘scary virus’ and that it’s okay for them to go about their daily lives without fear (but within the guidelines to keep everyone safe)

Talk to them openly about the virus and the situation and let them ask any questions they have. Children often worry less if their questions are answered and they don’t feel they are ‘being kept in the dark’. You can try to make hygiene routines like hand-washing more light-hearted by singing songs – although you may want to vary it from ‘happy birthday’! – and you could try to make masks less daunting by letting them choose a colour/fabric style that they love and would be happy to wear.

@sheilads105

My DD is back at secondary school. It's a large school and whilst they are in year bubbles during school hours, many pupils gather in mixed groups after school surely undoing all the precautions. How do I and my DD come to terms with this risk. We are not health compromised but do not want to catch COVID.

It is very difficult, but it is necessary, to become more comfortable with this slightly increased risk - particularly as schooling is so important. You cannot expect to feel at ease with this change straight away however, so be kind to yourself and give yourself time. Schools have been working hard to make things as safe as possible to children, and while they cannot eliminate the risk completely they do have a number of safety measures and checks in place to try to keep the risk of covid19 as low as possible. It is also important to recognize that the risk to children of serious illness from covid19 is very small.

@MonetManet

How do we meals masks 'less scary" for younger children? My DS finds them terrifying.

Let your child pick a fabric or design that they love so that they feel they have had some choice in the mask, or let them decorate an existing mask. Making them brightly coloured or with their favourite animal etc can make them more fun and less clinical. Also practice wearing them at home where they feel safe so that they are more used to them. This may make it less scary when they need to put them on in shops or other places.

@GlassOfPimms

My DD has a lifelong neurological condition but we haven't been told by our GP or any other NHS professional that she's at particularly high risk of having Covid. Since she's gone back to secondary school it's clear there's no social distancing between the children at all and year groups are just mixing as usual at breaks and lunch. They don't need masks other than just in a few lessons.

I'm not sure if I should be specially concerned about her health or not and whether I should be speaking to the school?

If your child was at particularly high risk of covid19 then you should have received communication from your GP regarding this. I do not know the specifics of her condition, but if you have not been told otherwise then it would be appear that she is not at increased risk. In general, the risk to children of becoming seriously unwell from covid19 is very small, which I hope can give you some small reassurance.

@longshot

My DD is 8 years old and had Covid in March. She's had 'long covid' as I have I. She is still suffering from awful fatigue daily plus chest pains and heart pains and palpitations on any exertion. I am concerned about her returning to school as we have not been able to obtain an antibody test and she is not yet at full health. My main concern is her catching it again after 6 months spent recovering from round one. What would you advise? Just to add before Covid she had no pre-existing conditions.

Research into the long-term complications of covid19 is ongoing, as is research into potential immunity and whether having had covid19 previously confers protection for the future. An antibody test would not affect decision-making as it is currently unclear whether antibodies give a person full protection against catching covid19 again. There is still a lot we are learning about the recovery process from covid19, but it does seem that her symptoms are protracted and if you have not already I would suggest your discuss these with her GP as she may need a referral onwards to a paediatrician or post-covid clinic to look into this in more detail.

@allybird1

My 5 year old has been complaining about a pain in her eyes. I have taken her to the doctor and an opthalmic specialist at the optician who both say there is nothing obvious they can see. Now back at school she has started to complain about a pain in her eyes. Could this be eye strain, tiredness or sinusitis? Should I ask for a second opinion. Many thanks.

All of the things that you mention – eye strain, tiredness or sinusitis – could cause eye pain. Eye strain is common in children who need glasses, and is often particularly common when starting school as children have to focus for long periods on reading and so the problem becomes more apparent. Did the eye specialist check her vision to ensure she does not require glasses, and has this been done recently (within the last few months)? Sinusitis would normally be accompanied by other symptoms such as a temperature, facial pain or nasal symptoms, so is more unlikely albeit not impossible. If her vision is tested as normal at an optician, then certainly you could ask for a second opinion

@emphasisofmatter

How do I know when to take my daughter to the doctors for ear pain? Sometimes it seems to go away on its own, sometimes lasts for days. I struggle as I can't see anything obviously wrong, like you can with inflamed tonsils for example!

Ear infections are common in children, and most are viral and so don’t actually need treating and will resolve on their own within a few days - although medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can relieve pain and temperature and make a child more comfortable. If a child has a very high temperature, is in significant pain from the ear, or has had ongoing ear pain for over 3 days then it is best to get it looked at by their GP for a clinical assessment. Other symptoms such as a child not eating or drinking well, not urinating frequently or feeling lethargic can also be signs that a child is sick with an infection and needs to be seen. Try not to let your child put anything inside the ear – particularly ear buds to clean the ear. The inside of the ear canal is very sensitive and can be easily traumatized by this causing pain and itching. Ears should naturally clean themselves and if wax does start to build then using a few drops of olive oil to soften this wax is all that is usually required. If wax does build up more than it should and blocks the ear canal then this can cause ear pain. If your child has been complaining of not being able to hear well for a while then it is best to get the ear looked at by a GP to assess for impacted wax.

@michmum

When do I need to test my child for covid? My daughter has been off school with really high temp, headaches and sore throat. Her support worker has been at hospital yesterday with her baby with suspected tonsillitis but they have tested her for covid so awaiting results? Should my daughter get tested or am I ok to ride it through till temp goes?

Yes, your child needs a covid19 test. 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.

@Anj123

My teenage daughter’s ears got blocked with earwax for the first time during lockdown. The doctor managed to remove the wax but had to do it manually as the equipment they normally use hadn’t been delivered. She has been told to put olive oil in her ears once a week. Is there anything else she can do to help? Do earphones make it worse as she wears them more than I want her to? Thanks.

Olive oil ear drops are excellent for softening ear wax and helping the ear naturally push it out of the ear canal. I would advise that your child uses these at least daily however to ensure the wax is as soft as possible. In-ear earphones can contribute to wax build-up if used frequently as they can push wax further back into the ear canal and stop the ear naturally getting rid of it. Ear phones that cover the ears, but that don’t sit inside the ear canal, are better if she suffers from wax problems.

@Karanew

Obviously now back at schools in bubbles, 3 days in and my daughters off as her teacher has COVID. I feel this is going to happen regularly within the school, she is only 6 how can I reassure her in an age appropriate manner that if she follows the guidelines washing hands etc that she is unlikely to become unwell, I can see she is starting to become troubled by it all.

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

@Larnipoo

If a confirmed COVID case is reported at a school what is the protocol. Does it depend on size of school, will there be testing?

Every school will have developed their own protocol for how to respond to coronavirus, so it is best to get in touch with your child’s individual school for their own guidelines. However, national guidance is that if a child develops symptoms of covid-19 (high temperature, new cough or loss of taste or smell) then they will be sent home to self-isolate with their household contacts until they have had a covid-19 test and result. If a child is positive for covid-19 then they must self-isolate for 10 days from the start of their symptoms. The school will work with the local health protection team to identify any other children that may have been in very close contact with the infected child and advise whether they too need to self-isolate. Testing is not recommended for entire schools, and is reserved for those showing possible symptoms or close contacts.

@fishnships

What do you suggest to help a teenager with acne that is aggravated by constantly having to wear a mask?

Good first steps in treatments for mild acne include products that contain benzoyl peroxide. This is available from pharmacies in 5% strength, and some common skincare brands such as Neutrogena or Clearasil also contain benzoyl peroxide in a weaker form. It works as an antiseptic on the skin to reduce bacteria and thus reduce acne breakouts. If her acne is more severe then there are various creams available on prescription which your GP, or a Livi GP, would be able to help with.

@mrsbunnyw

My 14yo DD with autism will not cope with a Covid-19 test if required. (I’ve had one, I know there’s no way I’ll get her to do one unless unconscious.) Is there an alternative? If not, and she (or anyone else in the household) ever has suspected Covid-19, what do we do?

Unfortunately, there is no alternative at present to the current covid-19 swab test. Therefore, if she has symptoms of covid-19 and is unable to tolerate a test, she, and the rest of the household, will have to self-isolate for the full quarantine period. This would be 10 days for the symptomatic person, and 14 days for the rest of the household.

@angep1969

My DS went back to school on Monday. I've already kept him home today with a streaming nose (which kept him awake last night). There's no cough or fever so I guess I could technically have sent him in but it feels counter productive to send a child in when you know they're just going to spread germs. He already takes vitamins, has a healthy enough diet and will (obv) be doing all the hand washing and distancing because of Covid. Is there anything else we can do to minimise these "ordinary" bugs or do we just need to accept that school is going to be ridiculously disjointed over winter?

I am afraid it is going to be very disruptive for families this winter, and we will have to accept this to a certain extent. It is likely that many households will have to quarantine as their children contract normal childhood coughs, colds and temperatures – and this will be particularly common over winter. It sounds like you are already doing all you can to mitigate this – ensure a varied diet filled with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables to boost their vitamin levels, plenty of water and a good night’s sleep every evening. Time spent playing/exercising outdoors is great for mental health, exercise benefits and vitamin D levels from the sunshine (just don’t forget to use sunscreen if it’s a very sunny day!)

@juliawilkes95

My nearly 16 year old son has an enlargement of the Aorta and a leak, as well as bicuspid valve, he has yearly scans to monitor this, when the county locked down he was deemed as extremely vulnerable, he is now back at school and no longer shielding, my question is ~ being more an adult size and due to age would it not be much worse for him if he were to catch corona virus? He is also asthmatic and has headaches often due to also having chiari malformation. I am petrified! Any advice to calm my nerves would be fantastic.

I can appreciate how worrying and stressful this must be for you and him. Age appears to be an indicator of more severe covid-19 symptoms, rather than being of an adult size - and a 16 year old would still be in the very low risk group in terms of age. Schools have been working hard to put protocols in place to make sure children are as safe as possible while still continuing their education. Obviously, he does have cardiovascular risk factors that put him at slightly higher risk, so make sure you are following all of the guidance regarding hygiene and social distancing.

@Elianna

My children’s school has announced that they will send home year groups to self-isolate for 14 days, if a child has Covid-19 in that particular year group. However, sibling in other year groups will be able to still attend school while their siblings are self-isolating. Do you think that this will reduce risk? Or if this happens should I try and isolate all my children to prevent spread of infection?

I am afraid you will need to follow your individual schools guidance on this, as every school has devised their own plan for a covid-19 outbreak. If one of your children is symptomatic, then the entire household should isolate for 14 days and make sure that the symptomatic child is tested.

@MrsRobert

My three year old changes clothes after nursery to avoid bringing Covid on his clothes into our house. Is this a waste of time? The children leave their personal items at nursery so many parents seem to be doing this. Are young children getting infected at home rather than at nursery?

Nursery age children tend to touch their faces a lot and so if there is covid-19 present on their clothes there is a high chance that they will already have been infected with this by touching their clothes and then their face. I am not convinced that changing their clothes on return from nursery will alter their risk or the risk of bringing covid-19 into the household. However, if there are particularly vulnerable adults within the household that are at high risk then there is certainly no harm in doing so, particularly if it brings you personal reassurance.

@Relightmyfire2017

Hi, as the mum of a child who attends an SEN school for autistic children, I am really concerned about the issues around social distancing in communal areas. My son shielded for 3 months as he has other health issues that mean he is highly vulnerable and now he’s back at school understandably he is worried about other younger children who don’t s/d because they don’t understand what’s going on. Do you have any advice to keep the risk of infection to a minimum? He is following advice and wearing a face mask, washing his hands regularly and having hand gel to hand if he needs it. I am so stressed and anxious about it all but hiding it well from my son. Any advice you can give would be really appreciated.

I can understand how worrying this must be for you, but I am afraid there is really no further advice to offer regarding risk as you mention he is already very good at socially distancing himself, hand washing and sanitizing and mask wearing. However, it is important for you both to talk about these worries. Allow him time and space to ask you questions regarding covid-19 and air his worries, and make sure you have someone you can confide in regarding the stress you are under as well.

@Danlsb

My year 1 child is asthmatic and has various allergies which can make her wheezy. If she is wheezy but not having full blown attack I Usually send her to school and just ask teacher to make sure she uses her inhaler. Is this fine or should I be more cautious and keep her home for the day if still wheezy following an asthma attack?

This is difficult to answer without knowing her history, which inhalers she is on and how severe her asthma attacks have been in the past. Do you have a plan from your GP regarding asthma management and an inhaler weaning plan for when she is wheezy? If she is showing any signs of shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or increased breathing rate then she should have a clinical assessment with a doctor. My worry about her attending school would be that she would not be monitored as closely as she would be at home with a parent – however it is difficult to give you blanket advice on this without knowing how wheezy she is and whether she has other symptoms along with it. It would be best to chat about this, and about her asthma management and plan, with your GP routinely.

@munchbunch12

Do you think children with cold symptoms (but not the 3 'main' covid ones) should have covid tests?

No, current recommendations are that only children suffering from a new temperature, new continuous cough or new loss of taste and smell require a covid test.

@Sam1904

Ive noticed a change in my childs behaviour, he seems a bit anxious. Waking up at night to go to the loo.i feel it is the result of lockdown and the changes at school How can i help him with 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 they have about the news, school, relatives or the general situation. Also ensure he knows who to talk to at school if they have a problem or concern. Let him ask questions rather than giving him too much information in one go, and try and be supportive and reassuring while still giving him the facts. Remember that although it is very scary, children are very unlikely to become seriously unwell from covid-19 so make sure he knows this.