The end of the school year is a time of intense transition for children. Between the excitement of the upcoming summer holidays, the shows to rehearse and the more “flexible” pace, the organisms are put to the test.
It is precisely at the time of the school festival, the high point of this period, that many of them end up reporting minor ailments. Deciphering a not-so-mysterious timing.
An exhausted and more vulnerable organism
The school celebration is not the direct trigger of the disease, but it intervenes on a ground already weakened by weeks of sustained school rhythm.
“At the end of the year, many children are simply exhausted. Between the accumulated fatigue, the heat, the emotions, the outings, the lack of sleep and sometimes the slightly less regular rhythm, their body becomes more vulnerable. It’s not that the party “makes you sick” in itself, but rather that it comes at a time when your defenses are a little flat” explains Dr. Gérald Kierzek.
The big mix of end-of-year viruses
The fair is the perfect gathering place. If the atmosphere is festive, physical proximity is maximum, which creates an ideal environment for the transmission of germs.
“At the school party, the children play together, hold each other, touch each other, share objects, snacks, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. explains the medical director of True Medical. “All this facilitates the circulation of small viruses already present in the classroom or in the family. In other words, a child can be infected without yet having symptoms, then report their infection one or two days later.
The most common ailments remain banal and especially viral infections, such as colds, sore throats, ear infections, gastroenteritis, or even a low-grade fever accompanied by headaches and severe fatigue.
When fatigue and dehydration mimic an infection
It sometimes happens that the symptoms observed are not the sign of a viral illness, but simply the consequence of the physical conditions of the day (heat, sun, excitement).
“Certain symptoms may be linked to dehydration, particularly during extreme heat, or to fatigue: headaches, depression, irritability, lack of appetite. Sometimes it gives the impression of a real infection when there is a mixture of small causes” says our expert. Lack of water and heatstroke should therefore be monitored closely.
The aftereffect of relaxation: when the body lets go
Finally, and it’s a classic but always surprising mechanism: the child seems to hold on to the excitement, then falls ill after the event.
“In many children, the body “holds on” during the last days of school, then gives up as soon as the stress subsides.“, deciphers the emergency doctor. “It’s a well-known phenomenon: when the agitation stops, the symptoms are more visible. This can give the impression that the child is “getting everything” at once, even though he has stopped compensating for fatigue.
In summary, the end of year celebrations combine a multitude of risk factors for the health of young people: accumulated fatigue, heavy weather, lack of sleep, reduced hydration and close contact. If your child shows these symptoms, don’t panic: a little rest, good hydration and a return to a calm pace are generally enough to reset the counters to zero. And look forward to the holidays to recharge the batteries!