3 Ways Virtual Health Care Can Help You Manage Back-to-School Sicknesses

The back-to-school season means the return of a few fall delights, like a new pair of sneakers, just-sharpened pencils, and a classroom full of new friends. But it can also bring a few unpleasantries — like back-to-school sicknesses.

When kids return to the playground, they can’t seem to help but bring home some kind of illness or injury, of which there’s a slew to choose from. Among the most common and contagious, we have colds and the flu, which can include stuffy noses, fevers, and body aches. Playground injuries can include cuts and bruises. And head lice, tiny hard-to-evacuate bugs on the scalp, cause severe itching and the heebie-jeebies for anyone in their vicinity.

Are you excited for back-to-school season yet? We have good news. A membership on Maple, available across Canada, provides on-demand access to primary care for parents during this event-packed back-to-school season. 

Balancing a busy family schedule is challenging enough without the added stress of unexpected health issues. With Maple, you have a trusted partner in your pocket, ready to connect you with a Canadian-licensed primary care provider — such as a doctor or nurse practitioner — 24/7/365, in minutes. And when it comes to the little ones, from sniffles to scrapes, our paediatric nurse practitioners are available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, ready to help when your kids need it most.

When back-to-school season is in full swing, there’s no time for health hiccups to slow you down. Here’s how Maple can help you navigate the busy back-to-school season.

Preventing your child from getting sick

Help prevent your child from getting sick or spreading a sickness at school by teaching them a few healthy habits, such as:

• Practicing regular handwashing with soap, lathering up for at least 20 seconds before rinsing
• Adopting proper coughing and sneezing etiquette — cough or sneeze into a clean tissue, or your upper arm if a tissue isn’t available
• Avoiding putting fingers in your mouth or eyes
• Eating a nutritious diet and taking multivitamins to help your immune system fight against illness

There are also a couple of things you can do: Keep kids home and away from others if they’re sick and follow routine immunization schedules, ensuring they get their annual influenza vaccine before the end of October and the COVID-19 vaccine when they’re clear to do so.

Depending on your province, a Maple membership could also give you access to a registered dietitian, without a referral, who can help you curate a healthy meal plan for your kids. Scientists have found that people who aren’t getting adequate vitamins and nutrients can be more susceptible to diseases, so a well-rounded diet can help keep your family’s immune system strong.

Diagnosing a sickness or injury

Has your little one come down with a cold or is it just allergies? Do they have impetigo or a harmless rash? Could it be head lice or just a dry, itchy scalp? What can you do about their sudden stomach flu?

Some diseases and conditions can be hard to diagnose — but a healthcare professional can help. Through our membership, you can speak to a primary care provider over secure text, audio, or video call in minutes. You can also schedule a virtual appointment with a hard-to-reach specialist, such as a dermatologist**, who can diagnose your kid’s health woe, stat.

Once you learn what your child has, primary care providers on Maple can help you decide your next steps, whether your little one is safe to return to school or if they need a prescription medication to get better. At a provider’s discretion, prescriptions can be sent to your home or your closest pharmacy.  

Treating common illnesses

Does your kid need a prescription to kick their illness, or will some good old-fashioned rest and chicken soup do the trick? You may need a doctor to make that call — but trekking to the doctor’s office (and securing a last-minute appointment, for that matter) isn’t always easy. That’s where virtual care comes in. With our membership, you can connect with a trusted primary care provider within minutes who can provide prescriptions at their discretion, suggest home remedies, and, whenever necessary, do more investigation into the issue to get your kid feeling good (and back in the classroom) as soon as possible.

To reap the benefits of our back-to-school program, all you need is a single membership. You can add your partner and kids under 18 years old to the plan so everyone can get daily access to care and access to a specialist such as a dermatologist or registered dietitian, no referral needed. 

Become a member today and speak to a primary care provider in a few minutes to get your back-to-school sickness prevention strategy all set for fall. Whether it’s a minor injury from the playground or a sudden bout of the flu, a membership on Maple can help you and your family through every twist and turn of the school year.

So, while your kids are busy making new friends and exploring fresh opportunities, let us handle the health hiccups. With Maple in your corner, you can focus on enjoying the joys of the season — new sneakers, freshly sharpened pencils, and all.

The information presented here is for educational purposes and is not meant to replace the advice from your medical professional. Virtual care is not meant for medical emergencies. If you are experiencing an emergency like chest pain or difficulty breathing, for example, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Virtual care is not meant for medical emergencies. If you are experiencing an emergency like chest pain or difficulty breathing, for example, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

**Dermatology is available in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta