Before the first week of March was even over, my son's nose started running.

Last September's wave left quite an impression. Not even half a month into school, kids in his class started dropping like flies. First came fevers, then coughs, then sick leave, then recovery, then another round β€” the speed of transmission was incredible. I remember thinking kindergarten must be one of the most germ-concentrated places on earth.

After barely making it through fall and winter, I thought spring would finally give us a breather. But nope β€” first week back in March, and the runny nose was back.

Though honestly, getting sick in spring is a whole lighter level compared to fall and winter. With warmer weather, viruses become less active. After reading up, I realized there are basically three types that make the rounds in kindergarten around March. Being mentally prepared helps a lot.

The first one: norovirus

This thing is a real beast. Statistically speaking, norovirus outbreaks spike every March, and kindergartens and schools are the hardest-hit places. Symptoms are unmistakable β€” sudden vomiting, possibly with diarrhea, maybe a low-grade fever. The key problem is that norovirus is highly contagious β€” a single vomit can aerosolize the virus and infect people within a few meters. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers don't kill it well; the most effective defense is washing hands with soap and running water.

The second one: influenza (the spring wave)

Everyone thinks flu season ends in winter, but spring is actually a second peak. The March flu wave is usually type A, and the symptoms hit harder than a common cold β€” sudden high fever, chills, whole-body aches. The key difference from a cold is the speed and intensity of onset. The flu vaccine takes about two weeks to build antibodies, so if your kid hasn't gotten it yet, getting it right when school starts might not be fast enough.

The third one: hand, foot, and mouth disease

This one typically peaks from March to July. The trademark is a fever followed by painful sores in the mouth and a rash on hands, feet, and buttocks. The biggest challenge is that it can be transmitted before any symptoms appear, so it's already spreading by the time you notice it. The severe cases are usually caused by EV71, and there's a dedicated vaccine for that strain β€” it's worth getting.

I won't lie β€” going through this list, I felt pretty anxious. But being aware is better than being caught off guard. I discussed a few things with another mom friend who's a pediatrician, and she gave me these practical tips:

Wash hands the moment you get home, before touching anything; change out of school clothes at the door; open windows for ventilation as much as possible, even in cold weather; and don't send a sick kid to school just because the fever has gone down β€” some viruses are still contagious for days after symptoms improve.

These tips won't prevent everything, but they're better than nothing. As a mom, sometimes that's enough.