0 shares 6 View comments By the middle of September, my surgery is heaving with children who have already fallen ill a couple of weeks into the new school term. Tummy bugs, coughs and colds all seem to thrive once kids are jam-packed in the classroom all day. I certainly notice this with my own children. I think the early mornings and long day at school can take their toll on the immune system, which is why I insist they get an early night. The important thing is most of these back-to-school infections are usually mild and require minimal treatment at home with the help of a pharmacist or your GP. Here is a comprehensive guide to the most common of school ailments – and how to tackle them... KEEP ON TOP OF LICE WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? An itchy head – this may start three months after the initial infection of head lice. ‘They are parasitic insects between 1mm and 3mm long that live on the head and feed on human blood. Many people mistakenly call them nits, but nit