Dr Phil Kieran: I'm worried my child will pick up bugs at playschool 

"This cough doesn’t mean they have a chest infection - it just sounds bad. Unfortunately, the cough can last up to three weeks after the illness settles, and there isn’t much you can do to shorten it."

Pic: iStock

My three-year-old is starting playschool next month, and I'm worried about him picking up infections while there. He's close to his grandparents, whom we visit regularly, so I'm also concerned that he might pass on a bug to them. What steps can I take to minimise the risk?

I wish I had a straightforward answer to this question, as I get asked it regularly.  Children get about eight to 12 viral infections annually in their preschool years, which is normal. These infections usually feature a runny nose, cough, fever, and possibly rashes.