Kids get sick at school primarily because they spend extended periods indoors in close proximity to each other, which facilitates the rapid spread of germs and viruses.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Close Quarters: Classrooms, hallways, and cafeterias often have many children in relatively small spaces. This physical proximity makes it easier for respiratory droplets containing viruses or bacteria to travel from one person to another.
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Indoor Environment: Being indoors, especially during colder months, often means less ventilation. Recirculated air can trap and spread airborne pathogens more effectively than fresh air.
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Germ Sharing: Children tend to share things – pencils, toys, snacks – and are less consistent with handwashing and covering coughs/sneezes, which increases the chance of germ transmission.
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Chain Reaction: As described in the reference, it's a ripple effect. One sick child can easily infect multiple others, who then spread the illness further.
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Developing Immune Systems: Children's immune systems are still developing, making them more susceptible to infections that adults might easily fight off.
Essentially, schools are breeding grounds for germs due to the combination of close contact, indoor environments, and developing immune systems among children.
