Kolkata Schools Step Up Vigilance as Viral Infections Keep Children Away from Class

Kolkata, August 26, 2026: A rise in viral infections among children has prompted several schools across Kolkata to step up precautions, with institutions advising parents to keep children at home if they develop fever, cough, cold, sore throat or other symptoms. The concern comes amid an increase in respiratory infections and fever cases being reported by paediatricians and hospitals across the city.

St Xavier’s Collegiate School has issued an advisory urging students to maintain proper hygiene, remain hydrated and avoid attending school when unwell. At St James’ School, teachers have also been advising parents not to send children to classes when they show symptoms of illness. La Martiniere for Girls had issued a similar advisory earlier, asking parents to keep children with cough, cold or sore throat at home.

The measures reflect growing concern over the ease with which respiratory infections can spread in classrooms, where children spend several hours in close proximity. School authorities have also reported cases of students becoming unwell during school hours and requiring parents to take them home. At St James’ School, the symptoms observed among students included vomiting, fever and a general feeling of sickness.

Doctors are also reporting an increase in the number of children seeking medical attention. Apurba Ghosh, executive director of the Institute of Child Health, said the hospital’s paediatric outpatient department had recorded a rise of around 20 per cent over the preceding 15 to 20 days. Children from six months to 15 years have been presenting with respiratory tract infections and fever, with younger children, particularly those below five or six years, reportedly experiencing more severe illness than older children.

The current situation comes against the backdrop of a broader rise in viral illnesses in Kolkata during the monsoon period. Earlier this month, doctors reported sustained circulation of influenza A and B, swine flu and mild Covid cases in the city. At one hospital, more than 100 patients had reportedly tested positive for swine flu over a month, while other hospitals were also treating patients with influenza-like symptoms.

Health experts have linked the increase in respiratory infections to seasonal conditions, including fluctuations in temperature and high humidity. Such conditions can facilitate the transmission of respiratory viruses, while crowded indoor environments such as classrooms can provide opportunities for infections to pass from one child to another. Doctors have therefore stressed the importance of preventing symptomatic children from returning to school too soon.

High fever has emerged as one of the major concerns for parents. Paediatricians have cautioned against indiscriminate use of antibiotics during the initial phase of a suspected viral infection, noting that antibiotics do not treat viral illnesses and should be used when medically indicated. Supportive care, adequate hydration and appropriate fever management remain important, while children with persistent or severe symptoms should receive medical evaluation.

Schools are consequently attempting to balance regular academic activity with preventive health measures. At St Xavier’s, the advisory includes handwashing, hydration and healthy food, while the school also encourages children who sweat heavily after physical activity to change clothes before entering air-conditioned classrooms. Such measures are intended to reduce discomfort as well as limit opportunities for infection to spread.

Doctors have further advised that children suffering from an infection should avoid crowded places and return to school only after recovery. One paediatrician cited by The Telegraph recommended keeping infected children away from school for at least 48 hours after their fever has subsided, particularly because respiratory infections can continue to spread through droplets.

The rise in viral infections has also coincided with an unusual late-monsoon warm spell in Kolkata. Doctors recently reported patients arriving with fever, weakness, diarrhoea and muscle pain, with some viral symptoms appearing to worsen amid sudden temperature changes.

For schools, the immediate priority remains preventing transmission without unnecessarily disrupting education. For parents, doctors say the key is to monitor symptoms closely, ensure adequate fluids and rest, avoid self-medication and seek professional medical advice when a child develops persistent or unusually high fever, breathing difficulties, severe weakness or other worrying symptoms.

With several Kolkata schools already issuing health advisories and paediatric outpatient departments reporting increased footfall, the situation has placed renewed emphasis on a simple but important precaution: children who are unwell should stay home until they have recovered, helping protect both their classmates and the wider school community.