THE WAY. WE’LL SHOW YOU THAT HERE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. THANKS, DAVID. WELL, NEXT WEEK, KIDS ALL OVER CENTRAL IOWA WILL HEAD BACK TO THE CLASSROOM. IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN SCHOOL GETS BACK INTO SESSION. DOCTORS SAY THEY TYPICALLY SEE AN UPTICK IN ILLNESSES. vlog BEAU BOWMAN JOINS US NOW. AND BEAU, WHAT ARE DOCTORS HERE IN CENTRAL IOWA ON THE LOOKOUT FOR RIGHT NOW? WELL, BEN, DOCTORS HERE IN CENTRAL IOWA SAY A FEW VIRAL ILLNESSES ARE ALREADY FLOATING AROUND. THEY SAY THIS IS NOTHING NEW THIS TIME OF YEAR, BUT THEY DO HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO KEEP IT FROM SPREADING. ONCE SCHOOL STARTS UP. WE HAVE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK IN VIRAL ILLNESSES. DOCTOR HANNA HARTMAN IS A FAMILY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AT UNITYPOINT. SHE SAYS THERE ARE SOME VIRAL BUGS FLOATING AROUND, NOT QUITE TO THE LEVEL OF WINTER FLU SEASON, BUT STILL ENOUGH TO TAKE NOTE. THE COMMON COLD, SOME FLURRIES OF COVID 19, BUT MOST COMMONLY HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. IN LITTLE KIDS, YOU SEE THE TYPICAL FEVER, THEN FOLLOWED BY A RASH. ADULTS, WE KIND OF GET FEVERS, MUSCLE ACHES, JOINT PAINS, THAT KIND OF STUFF. WITH MOST CENTRAL IOWA SCHOOLS BACK IN SESSION NEXT WEEK, HARTMAN SAYS THEY’RE EXPECTING TO SEE MORE VIRAL CASES IN THE COMING WEEKS. IF YOUR CHILD BECOMES SICK OR HAS SOME SYMPTOMS, SHE SAYS, PARENTS SHOULD KEEP THEM AT HOME AND THEY SHOULDN’T GO BACK TO THE CLASSROOM UNTIL THEIR FEVER FREE FOR 24 HOURS. OTHER THINGS THAT JUST MAKE SENSE, RIGHT? WASHING YOUR HANDS, YOU KNOW, NOT SHARING FOOD OR BEVERAGES, COVERING YOUR MOUTH IF YOU’RE SICK, HARTMAN SAYS. THE THIRD WEEK IN SEPTEMBER IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON WEEKS FOR ASTHMA. EXASPERATIONS, SHE SAYS THAT’S CAUSED BY A FEW DIFFERENT FACTORS VIRUSES KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO AT SCHOOL, THE AMOUNT OF ALLERGENS THAT ARE IN THE AIR THIS TIME OF YEAR AND FALL HARVEST SEASON. IT’S IMPORTANT NOW TO START PREPARING WITH MAKING SURE YOU HAVE THOSE AS NEEDED MEDICINES. HAVE AN ALLERGY AND ASTHMA ACTION PLAN IN PLACE BY TALKING TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, HARTMAN SAYS. THE NUMBER ONE THING PARENTS SHOULD DO IS TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR TO SEE IF YOUR CHILD IS UP TO DATE ON THEIR VACCINATIONS. CERTAINLY, YOU WOULD NOT WANT A SUPERSPREADER EVENT WITHIN A SCHOOL SYSTEM. MEASLES IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS ON THE TOP OF MIND. TOP OF MIND FOR FAMILY PHYSICIANS LIKE HARTMAN THERE, SHE SAYS, MOST IMMUNIZED IOWANS HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, BUT THERE IS A CONCERN FOR THOSE IN A VULNERABLE POPULATION THE VERY YOUNG, THE VERY OLD AND THE UNVACCINATED. BEN. AL
Viral illnesses see an uptick in central Iowa ahead of the school year
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Updated: 5:54 PM CDT Aug 21, 2025
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As students across Central Iowa prepare to return to school next week, doctors are urging parents to be vigilant about viral illnesses that tend to spike during this time of year. Dr. Hannah Hartman, a family medicine physician at UnityPoint, says several viral bugs are already circulating, including the common cold, some cases of COVID-19, and most notably, hand, foot, and mouth disease."We have seen a little bit of an uptick in viral illnesses," Hartman said. While these illnesses are not yet at the level of winter flu season, they are still significant enough to warrant attention. Hartman says that in young children, hand, foot, and mouth disease typically presents with a fever followed by a rash, while adults may experience fever, muscle aches and joint pain.With schools reopening, Hartman anticipates an increase in viral cases in the coming weeks. She advises parents to keep sick children at home and ensure they are fever-free for at least 24 hours before returning to the classroom."Other things that just make sense," she said, "washing your hands, not sharing food or beverages, covering your mouth if you're sick."Asthma exacerbations are also a concern, as the third week of September is one of the most common times for flare-ups. Hartman attributes this to a combination of factors, including exposure to viruses at school, seasonal allergens, and fall harvest activities. She recommends parents prepare by having as-needed medications on hand and working with healthcare providers to establish an asthma action plan."It's important now to start preparing," she said.Immunizations are another critical focus. Hartman emphasized the importance of ensuring children are up to date on their vaccines to prevent outbreaks of diseases like measles."Certainly you would not want a super spreader event within a school system," she said. While most immunized Iowans are protected, vulnerable populations — including the very young, older adults and the unvaccinated — remain at risk.As the school year begins, parents are encouraged to take proactive steps to protect their children and communities from illness by following these guidelines and consulting with their health care providers.
DES MOINES, Iowa — As students across Central Iowa prepare to return to school next week, doctors are urging parents to be vigilant about viral illnesses that tend to spike during this time of year. Dr. Hannah Hartman, a family medicine physician at UnityPoint, says several viral bugs are already circulating, including the common cold, some cases of COVID-19, and most notably, hand, foot, and mouth disease.
"We have seen a little bit of an uptick in viral illnesses," Hartman said. While these illnesses are not yet at the level of winter flu season, they are still significant enough to warrant attention. Hartman says that in young children, hand, foot, and mouth disease typically presents with a fever followed by a rash, while adults may experience fever, muscle aches and joint pain.
With schools reopening, Hartman anticipates an increase in viral cases in the coming weeks. She advises parents to keep sick children at home and ensure they are fever-free for at least 24 hours before returning to the classroom.
"Other things that just make sense," she said, "washing your hands, not sharing food or beverages, covering your mouth if you're sick."
Asthma exacerbations are also a concern, as the third week of September is one of the most common times for flare-ups. Hartman attributes this to a combination of factors, including exposure to viruses at school, seasonal allergens, and fall harvest activities. She recommends parents prepare by having as-needed medications on hand and working with healthcare providers to establish an asthma action plan.
"It's important now to start preparing," she said.
Immunizations are another critical focus. Hartman emphasized the importance of ensuring children are up to date on their vaccines to prevent outbreaks of diseases like measles.
"Certainly you would not want a super spreader event within a school system," she said. While most immunized Iowans are protected, vulnerable populations — including the very young, older adults and the unvaccinated — remain at risk.
As the school year begins, parents are encouraged to take proactive steps to protect their children and communities from illness by following these guidelines and consulting with their health care providers.
