So Far, Back-To-School Illnesses Are Minimal

By Laurie Borst

School has been back in session for six weeks now. Local school nurses are reporting a pretty quiet start to the year. But as the air gets cooler, we move indoors, closing up windows, trapping germs inside with us.

“It seems like as soon as they come back, it starts up,” said Sally Cox, nurse at Sandy Hook School. “Being in a classroom all day, coming into close contact, things get passed around. My office has seen some stomach bugs, colds, coughs, but nothing out of the ordinary. Allergies are up with itchy eyes, coughing. This drops off with the first frost.”

“It’s early yet, [incidents are] within normal parameters,” Head O’ Meadow nurse Anne Dalton explained. “We are asking people to be more diligent about keeping sick kids home.” Several nurses echoed this sentiment.

Peggy Arnett of Hawley School and Nancy Benzing, Middle Gate, both said that while there are always some illness, they have not seen anything major yet. Both nurses stressed hand washing as the number one most effective means of preventing illness. Pat Philipp and Barbara Reilly both report a fairly healthy start to the year.

All the nurses referred to healthy habits to help stay well. Rest, eat right, exercise, and wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!

Boosting The Immune System

Keeping the immune system strong is the best way to maintain health. The top two things anyone can do to stay healthy is get adequate rest and eat a balanced diet. And a little exercise never hurt anyone either.

If you feel the need to give your child’s, or your own, immune system a boost, Dr Bill Sears, a pediatrician with more than 30 years experience, offers these suggestions on his website, askdrsears.com:

Echinacea is an herb native to North America. Also called coneflower, preparations of the plant are reported to boost the immune system. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a branch of the National Institute of Health, supports the study of Echinacea for the treatment of upper respiratory infections.

Vitamin C’s germ-fighting powers have been lauded for decades. Vitamin C is required for the growth and repair of body tissues. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, a chemical that blocks the damage caused by free radicals, byproducts of normal body metabolism.

Fruits and vegetables are also recommended for a healthy immune system. All fruits and vegetables contain some Vitamin C, along with many other antioxidants.

Zinc has come to the forefront in recent years in the fight to stay healthy. Zinc is an essential mineral needed by virtually every cell in the body. It stimulates the activity of 100 enzymes, which are the catalysts for biochemical reactions. Zinc serves many functions but is proving to be a major weapon in the war on colds.

Oysters contain the highest concentration of zinc, but red meat and poultry provide a significant amount also. Beans, nuts, dairy products, and fortified breakfast cereals are good sources, too.

Probiotics refers to bacteria that live in the small intestine. Lactobacillus acidophilus is the type that lives in the human intestine. These are the “good bacteria” that attack invading bacteria. Acidophilus also produce vitamin K and lactase. Acidophilus is easily obtained in the diet by eating yogurt.

Lastly, Dr Sears recommends avoiding behaviors that weaken the immune system. This includes avoiding excess alcohol, food allergens, too much fat, and overdosing on sugar. Excess alcohol has been shown to reduce white blood cells’ ability to multiply. Overdosing on sugar (more than 100 grams, the equivalent of one 12-ounce soda) reduces the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by 40 percent.

Food allergens cause damage to the lining of the gut, which leads to toxins being absorbed into the bloodstream. Obesity has been shown to lead to a depressed immune system.

Those considering adding supplements to their diet should discuss the subject with their family doctor. As with any bodily process, the right nutrients/chemicals keep it running properly.