A simple way to stay healthy while being exposed to back to school germs

What's Going Around

JACKSONVILLE, Fla – Doctors in  Duval County at the CareSpot on Southside Blvd. are treating pink eye.  It's very common and goes away in seven to 10 days without medical treatment. Your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic because there is a possibility it could speed up the healing process.

In Clay County, at the CareSpot in Middleburg, doctors are treating stomach bugs, strep throat, ear infections. They're treating pink eye in younger patients.

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In Nassau County at the CareSpot in Yulee doctors are treating sinus infections, bronchitis, and strep throat.


Healing Arts Urgent Care in St. Johns County says things aren't ramping up yet but they're expecting things to pick up.  They're still doing a lot of sport physicals.  Doctors want to remind everyone to practice good hand washing.  Also don't forget to check with your child often to make sure they're drinking enough water while playing sports.

Keep in mind the start of the school year goes hand in hand with the start of cold and flu season. Doctors say kids aren't exposed to as many germs when they're outside playing all summer but once they go back to school, germs have a field day. 



"All of a sudden everything gets spread from person to person so, germs definitely have more people in close quarters, in combination with not leaving small rooms, and there's less places for the germs to go and that's why we usually see an uptick in more people getting sick," says Dr. Michael Koniarczyk.

The pediatrician says any time a child touches something, germs get on their hands.

It's important to remind children to wash their hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs.

It's especially important after sneezing or using the bathroom. Doctors recommend hands and wrists are washed for 20 seconds with soap and water to get rid of cold and flu viruses. A good way to remember how long to wash is to sing the song happy birthday twice while scrubbing.

Dr. Koniarczyk says alcohol-based hand sanitizing gels are  popular but it's important to keep two things in mind for best results.

"It works best if you don't have anything on your hand actively like dirt or debris, number one; otherwise it's not going to be as effective. And number 2, the main trick is you want to use it until your hands are dry, so you want to rub the gel, until it's gone," says Koniarczyk.

He recommends practicing good hand washing habits at home throughout the school year, especially for younger children.


About the Author:

Anchor on The Morning Show team and reporter specializing on health issues.