India, July 14 -- School uniforms are neatly ironed, books are freshly covered, lunch boxes are packed, and classrooms are once again filled with chatter. But for many parents, the start of a new school term also brings a less welcome routine. Within weeks, a child comes home with a runny nose, sore throat, cough or fever. Soon, a sibling catches the bug, and before long, even the parents may find themselves feeling under the weather.

While this annual cycle may seem like bad luck, there's a scientific reason behind it. HT Lifestyle spoke to Dr Lokesh Mahajan - Head of Paediatrics at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad - who explains why infections tend to spread so quickly when schools reopen. He points out, "The first few weeks after sch...