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Lice, pinkeye, and 7 more back-to-school problems

These common bugs and body issues should be on every parent's radar.


LearnEyesPink eye (conjunctivitis)Lice, pinkeye, and 7 more back-to-school problems
Head lice
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Body Odor
Ringworm
Pinworms
Bad Breath
Acne
Excess Sweat
Mono

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The book bags are packed, the carpool is scheduled, and you’re ready for the new school year. But are you really ready? From head lice to bad breath, heading back to class can mean bugs and body issues, whatever your child’s age.

If you haven’t already, make sure your kids’ immunizations are current before summer ends. Then, brush up on these common conditions—and their treatments.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Preventi... + 18
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lice: About Head Lice. June 4, 2024.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lice: Treatment of Head Lice. November 12, 2024.
  3. Nemours KidsHealth. Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye) in Kids. November 2020.
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye): About Pinkeye. April 15, 2024.
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye). Clinical Overview of Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis). April 15, 2024.
  6. Nemours KidsHealth. All About Puberty. June 2023.
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ringworm and Fungal Nail Infections: Ringworm and Fungal Nail Infections Basics. April 24, 2024.
  8. Nemours KidsHealth. Ringworm: Signs, Causes & Treatment. March 2023.
  9. American Academy of Dermatology Association. Ringworm: Overview. Accessed May 21, 2025.
  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pinworm Infection: About Pinworm Infection. September 9, 2024.
  11. Mayo Clinic. Pinworm infection. June 4, 2022.
  12. American Dental Association. Dental health for teens: Bad Breath. Accessed May 21, 2025.
  13. Nemours KidsHealth. Acne. August 2020.
  14. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Acne. July 2023.
  15. American Academy of Dermatology Association. Who Gets and Causes. Accessed May 21, 2025.
  16. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Hyperhidrosis. Accessed May 21, 2025.
  17. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  18. Nemours KidsHealth. Mononucleosis (Mono). June 2023.
  19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epstein-Barr Virus and Infectious Mononucleosis: About Infectious Mononucleosis (Mono). May 9, 2024.
Written by Olivia DeLong.
Medically reviewed by Amy Gonzales, MD.November, 2024
Updated onAugust, 2026
Written by Olivia DeLong.
Medically reviewed by Amy Gonzales, MD.November, 2024
Updated onAugust, 2026
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