Staying Healthy During Exam Season in Mauritius
October and November are exam months for many students in Mauritius, from SC and HSC candidates to those sitting other end-of-year exams. Late nights, long revision days and pressure take their toll, and illness tends to strike at the worst moment. Here is a practical guide to staying healthy during exams, for parents and students alike.
Sleep: Your Best Revision Tool
All-nighters feel productive, but they rarely are. Sleep is when the brain stores what was learned during the day, so a tired student remembers less and makes more careless mistakes. Teenagers generally need 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night, and exam season is not the time to cut back.
A regular routine, screens off
Go to bed and wake up at roughly the same times every day, weekends included, and keep naps to 20 or 30 minutes. Switch screens off an hour before bed: phones keep the brain alert, and “five minutes” of scrolling easily becomes an hour.
Food and Hydration: Fuel for Long Days
A brain under pressure needs steady energy, and skipped meals bring headaches and poor concentration.
- Never skip breakfast, especially on exam days: bread with an egg, porridge, yoghurt or fruit all work.
- Eat regular meals with vegetables, protein and wholegrains, and snack on fruit or nuts rather than sweets.
- Drink water through the day. October and November grow hotter and more humid in Mauritius, and even mild dehydration causes tiredness and headaches.
Go easy on energy drinks and caffeine
Too much caffeine from energy drinks, strong coffee or caffeine tablets can cause palpitations, shakiness, anxiety, an upset stomach and, above all, poor sleep. Doctors generally advise teenagers to avoid energy drinks altogether. Keep coffee or tea moderate and stop by early afternoon.
Exam Stress: What Is Normal and What Is Not
Feeling nervous before an exam is normal, and a little pressure can even sharpen focus. Butterflies or a restless night before a big paper are part of the experience.
Signs that deserve more attention
Look more closely when stress stops a young person from functioning:
- panic attacks, or a constant feeling of dread;
- several days of poor sleep or not eating properly;
- withdrawing from family and friends;
- being unable to study, or refusing to go to school;
- frequent headaches, stomach pains or palpitations;
- talk of hopelessness, or any mention of self-harm.
Simple ways to manage stress
- Breathe slowly: in through the nose for a count of four, out for a count of six, for a minute or two.
- Take short breaks: five to ten minutes every hour, away from screens.
- Move: a walk, a swim or a game of football eases tension and helps sleep.
- Talk to someone: a parent, a friend, a teacher or a school counsellor.
If anxiety stops a student from functioning, see a doctor: it can be treated. If a young person talks about harming themselves, take it seriously and get help the same day. If someone is in immediate danger, call 114 straight away.
Common Illnesses That Strike at the Worst Time
Tired, stressed students catch bugs more easily. Here is what to do at home, and when to see a doctor.
Fever and flu
Rest, fluids and paracetamol, following the dose on the packet or your doctor’s advice, are the basics. See a doctor if the fever is high or lasts more than two to three days, or comes with a stiff neck, a rash, difficulty breathing, a severe headache, joint pain or confusion. In Mauritius, dengue and chikungunya can also cause a sudden fever, so do not dismiss it as “just flu”. See our guide to managing a high fever at home.
Gastro
Small, frequent sips of water or an oral rehydration solution matter more than food at first. See a doctor if the student cannot keep fluids down, has blood in the stools, severe stomach pain or signs of dehydration such as dizziness, a dry mouth and very little urine. Read more about treating gastro at home and the signs of dehydration.
Migraines and tension headaches
Screens, poor posture, skipped meals, dehydration and lack of sleep all trigger headaches. Water, food, rest in a dark room and screen breaks often help, with paracetamol following the dose on the packet. Needing painkillers most days is a reason to see a doctor. A sudden, very severe headache, or one with fever, a stiff neck, weakness, confusion or vision problems, is an emergency: call 114 and see our guide to a medical emergency at home.
Sore throat
Warm drinks, honey, salt-water gargles and rest ease most sore throats, which usually settle within a week. See a doctor if swallowing or breathing becomes difficult, there is a high fever, or the pain keeps getting worse.
Stress-related stomach upsets
Nausea, cramps or loose stools before an exam are common and usually harmless; light, regular meals, less caffeine and slow breathing help. See a doctor if the pain is severe, persistent or wakes the student at night, or comes with vomiting, weight loss or blood.
Allergies, Asthma and Chronic Conditions
Stress, poor sleep and the change of season can make allergies and asthma flare up, so keep regular treatment going.
- Asthma: use the preventer inhaler as prescribed, and keep a reliever inhaler, in date and not empty, in the school bag.
- Allergies: ask your doctor about non-drowsy treatment if allergic rhinitis disturbs sleep or concentration.
- Diabetes, epilepsy and other long-term conditions: stick to treatment, meals and monitoring. Lack of sleep, for example, can make seizures more likely.
- Prescriptions: renew them before the exams start, not the night before a paper.
Falling Ill Just Before or During Exams
A fever the night before a paper can happen to the best-prepared student. Act quickly rather than wait and hope.
See a doctor promptly
A Médecin à Domicile doctor can come to your home day or night, so a sick teenager does not have to sit in a waiting room the evening before an exam. The doctor examines and treats the student and, after the examination, can issue a medical certificate if one is needed.
Contact the school quickly
If your child may miss an exam, contact the school as soon as possible: the school will explain what documents are needed.
When to Call a Home Doctor
Médecin à Domicile has been visiting families across Mauritius since 2016, 24/7, including weekends and public holidays. Our doctors, registered with the Medical Council of Mauritius, speak English, French and Creole. A doctor home visit costs Rs 3 000 during the day (08:00–18:00) and Rs 4 000 at night (18:00–08:00); eligible Eagle Insurance and Jubilee Insurance members pay nothing on the spot. Details in our price guide, or call 86121.
Frequently Asked Questions
My child has a fever the night before an exam. What should I do?
Give fluids, let them rest and use paracetamol following the dose on the packet. If the fever is high, comes with other symptoms or you are worried, have a doctor examine them that evening. Médecin à Domicile visits at night too, on 86121. If your child may miss the exam, contact the school early.
Can a home doctor give a medical certificate?
Yes. During the home visit, after examining the student, the doctor can issue a medical certificate if their condition justifies it. Because it is based on the examination, the student needs to be seen while unwell. If an exam is missed, contact the school quickly: it will tell you which documents are required.
Are energy drinks OK for revision?
It is best to avoid them. Energy drinks are high in caffeine and often sugar, which can cause palpitations, shakiness, anxiety, stomach upset and poor sleep. The short boost is followed by a slump, and lost sleep harms memory far more than the drink helps. Water, regular meals and short breaks work better.
How much sleep do teenagers need during exams?
Teenagers generally need 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night, and exam season is no exception. Sleep helps the brain store what was learned, so cutting it to revise usually backfires. Keep regular bed and wake-up times, switch screens off an hour before bed and avoid caffeine later in the day.
When is exam stress a reason to see a doctor?
See a doctor if anxiety stops the student from functioning: panic attacks, sleepless nights, not eating, refusing to go to school, or frequent headaches and stomach pains. A doctor can rule out a physical cause and discuss support. Any talk of self-harm needs help the same day; in immediate danger, call 114.
Exam season is stressful enough. If your student falls ill, day or night, join the 80,000+ families who already trust us: call 86121.
