Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Calcutta Schools Urge Sick Children to Stay Home Amid Infections
Many children in Calcutta are becoming sick with fevers and breathing-related infections.
Several schools are asking parents to keep sick children at home.
This helps stop viruses from spreading to classmates and teachers.
Some children have had very high fevers, vomiting or nausea.
Doctors say the recent weather, including seasonal changes and high humidity, may help viruses spread.
They advise parents to give children enough fluids and use safe doses of paracetamol to manage fever.
Doctors also caution against giving antibiotics without medical advice, especially during the first 72 hours.
Children who are infected should stay away from school for at least 48 hours after their fever goes away.
Crowded places and swimming pools should also be avoided while they are sick.
Schools including St Xavier’s Collegiate and St James’ are advising parents not to send sick children to class.
Children have reported fever, vomiting, nausea and respiratory tract infections, with some being sent to school infirmaries or home.
The Institute of Child Health recorded a 20% increase in child outpatient visits over the past 15 to 20 days.
Doctors linked the infections to seasonal changes and high humidity, which encourage influenza, rhinovirus and other viruses.
Doctors advised hydration, safe fever management and keeping infected children away from school for at least 48 hours after fever remission.
- Who
- Children in Calcutta, their parents, schools and paediatricians.
- What
- Schools are issuing advisories to keep sick children at home as viral infections, fever and respiratory illnesses increase.
- When
- The number of child outpatient visits rose over the 15 to 20 days before the report; schools reported recent illness during the previous week.
- Where
- Schools and healthcare facilities across Calcutta.
- Why
- To reduce human-to-human transmission of infections, which doctors associated with seasonal changes and high humidity.
- Reported outpatient increase
- The Institute of Child Health reported a 20% rise in child outpatient visits over the previous 15 to 20 days.
- Reported symptoms
- Children were reporting respiratory tract infections, fever, nausea and vomiting.
- Age range affected
- Cases were reported among children from six months to 15 years old.
- More serious cases
- Children up to five or six years old were described as becoming more seriously ill than those above 10.
- Fever guidance
- Doctors said high fever can be managed with safe doses of paracetamol and adequate hydration, while cautioning against indiscriminate antibiotics in the first 72 hours.
- School return guidance
- Infected children should remain away from school for at least 48 hours after their fever has gone away.
- Other precautions
- Doctors advised infected people to avoid swimming pools and crowded places where droplet transmission can occur.