Monthly Archives: January 2013

‘Tis the Season to Catch the Flu

It’s all over the news: this is one of the worst flu seasons in several years. Influenza is still a dangerous disease that can take the lives of children and adults, especially if they are susceptible to infections because of asthma or a weakened immune system. But every year, previously healthy infants and children also die from influenza.  Here’s some advice on how to prevent, recognize, and treat influenza and when you need to call the doctor.

How can I prevent my child from getting the flu?

Get your children and yourselves vaccinated as soon as possible. Although it takes up to two weeks for all the protection to take hold, the flu outbreak may last till March, and you can still get protection for your family. This year’s vaccine is over 65% effective. Although difficult to prevent once an outbreak occurs in a community, the following steps are advised by the CDC:

  • Avoid close contact.
    Keep your children away from people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
  • Keep your child home.
    Keep your child home if he or she becomes sick or if there is a known outbreak in daycare or schools.
  • Cover your mouth and nose.
    Teach your child to cover his mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
  • Clean your hands.
    Washing your hands and your children’s hands often will help protect you from germs.
  • Teach your child to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
    This is a hard one for parents. Germs are often spread when a child touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

How do I know if my child has the flu?

The symptoms are very specific and include high fever (usually lasting 4 – 6 days), sore aching muscles, generalized weakness, headache, pain behind the eyeballs, a sore throat and hacking cough.

How can I treat the flu?

The uncomplicated flu lasts 7 – 10 days and does not respond to antibiotics. Treatment includes plenty of fluids, bed rest and acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever, headache and body aches. For cough, try a mixture of honey and lemon (if older than 1 year), non-caffeine teas or an over the counter (OTC) cough suppressant. Remember, to prevent Reye’s syndrome, a potentially fatal illness, never give aspirin to your child or adolescent with the flu.

When Do I Need to Call the doctor?

If the cough is worsening or your child is having difficulty breathing,

If you suspect your infant (under 1 years old) has the flu, especially if he/she has a high fever and cough which persists for more than 3 days. NOTE: Any infant under 2 months with a fever (rectal temperature of 101 or greater) must be seen.

If your older child has a high fever for more than 5 days, a worsening cough (with or without chest pain), a headache for more than 5 days or a headache which is getting worse or accompanied by a stiff neck.

Cold or Flu? How to tell if your child has a simple cold or the flu

girl blowing noseThe flu is still a serious illness, especially for small infants and anyone who has a weakened immune system or asthma. For most healthy kids who contract influenza, they will be very sick for a few days and then recover fully, but every year, a few healthy children and teens become seriously ill from influenza.  Vaccination is key to preventing widespread flu outbreaks, however, what if your child was not immunized this year.  You may begin to worry about every sniffle. wondering is this the flu or just a simple cold. Here are some guidelines to help you tell the difference.

The common cold lasts about 9-10 days and is sometimes described as three days coming, three days here and three days going. The first three days your child may have a fever. In infants and toddlers the temperature might reach 103-104, but after giving some acetaminophen or ibuprofen, the temperature will be lower and your baby will seem better. In older children there might be a low-grade fever or none at all.  But here comes the runny nose. A cold always causes a runny nose, but the flu usually does not.

During the middle phase of a cold, a child may develop a cough because of the congestion from the nose, however it will not be a deep or hacking cough as we see when a child has the flu, and usually there is no chest pain. During this time the fever is usually gone, and your child might be back to their activities, despite the runny nose and mild cough.

The final three days is when the mucous starts to thicken and become crusty. At this point it’s just wiping the nose and using humidifiers to help your child breathe easier at night.

The symptoms of flu are very specific and include high fever (usually lasting 4 – 6 days), sore aching muscles, generalized weakness, headache, pain behind the eyeballs, a sore throat and hacking cough.

The uncomplicated flu lasts 7 – 10 days and does not respond to antibiotics.Your pediatrician can decide if an antiviral such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) would be appropriate.  Treatment includes plenty of fluids, bed rest and acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever, headache and body aches.  For cough, try a mixture of honey and lemon (if older than 1 year), non-caffeine teas. Some studies even suggest that chicken soup has some merit. Try to avoid OTC cold medicines, especially in children younger than 2 years of age. Remember, to prevent Reye’s syndrome, a potentially fatal illness, never give aspirin to your child or adolescent with the flu. Consult your pediatrician or family physician if your child has difficulty breathing, chest pain, a cough that is preventing them from sleeping, or a prolonged fever.