The flu, also known as influenza, is more dangerous than the
common cold for children and poses a serious threat to the health and
well-being of children and their families each year. Children commonly need
medical care because of the flu, especially before they reach the age of five,
and each year an average of 20,000 children under the age of five are
hospitalized because of flu complications.
The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that since 2010,
flu-related hospitalizations among children younger than five years ranged from
7,000 to 26,000 in the United States.
While relatively rare, some children die from flu each year.
Since 2004-2005, flu-related deaths in children reported to CDC during regular
flu seasons have ranged from 37 deaths to 171 deaths. Severe flu complications
are most common in children younger than two, and children with chronic health
problems, like asthma and diabetes, are at especially high risk of developing
serious flu complications.
Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, tiredness,
cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches and nausea. Vomiting and
diarrhea also can occur and are much more common among children than adults.
Prevent the spread of
the flu
The main way the flu is spread from person to person is
through the coughs and sneezes of an infected person. A transfer can also occur
when a person touches their own nose or mouth after coming into contact with
infected droplets, nose drainage or saliva from an infected person.
Washing your hands is the best way to prevent the spread the flu
after such contamination. Teaching your child to cover his or her nose and
mouth when sneezing or coughing and to wash his or her hands immediately after
coming into contact with any infected fluids, including their own, will help
them keep both themselves and others safe from infection.
Newly infected adults and caregivers are able to spread the
flu as early as one day before showing symptoms. They will continue to be
contagious up to seven days after the symptoms have begun.
If your child develops a fever (100°F or higher under the
arm, 101°F or higher orally, or 102°F or higher rectally), chills, cough, sore
throat, headaches or muscles aches, keep your child at home until their
temperature has been normal for 24 hours without the need for fever-reducing
medicine.
Remind your child to cover their mouth when coughing or
sneezing to protect others. You may also want to send facial tissues and
alcohol-based wipes or gels with your child for use at school.
Get a flu shot
Vaccination is the best method for preventing the flu and
its potentially severe complications in children. The CDC is now recommending
that everyone six months of age and older get a yearly flu vaccination.
The CDC strongly recommends that the following people in
contact with certain groups of children get a flu vaccine in order to protect
the children in their lives from the flu:
- Those who are close contacts of children younger than five (people who live with them),
- Out-of-home caregivers (nannies, day care providers, etc.) of children younger than five,
- People who live with or have other close contact with a child of any age with a chronic health problem (asthma, diabetes, etc.), and
- All health care workers.
For information about other people recommended for
vaccination, either because they are at high risk for serious, flu-related
complications or because they are contacts of high-risk people, please visit www.cdc.gov/flu.
The groups of children listed below are at increased risk
for flu complications.
- Children younger than six months old
- Children between the ages of six months and five years
- Children six months and older with chronic health problems
Yearly flu vaccination should begin as soon as vaccine is
available, ideally in October, but vaccinations are available throughout the
flu season, which usually peaks in January. Because flu viruses change every
year, the vaccine is updated annually. So even if you or your children got a
flu vaccine last year, you and your children both still need to get a flu
vaccine this season to be protected. If October and November slip by and you
haven’t gotten your vaccinations, get vaccinated in December or later.
It is especially important for children of six months to
nine years of age who are getting a flu vaccine for the first time to receive
the vaccine as early as possible. This is because these children will need the
two doses of vaccine to be spread apart by a minimum of 28 days.
If possible, the first dose should be given as soon as
vaccine becomes available around October. The second dose should be given soon
after the 28-day period has passed. The first dose “primes” the immune system,
but it is the second dose that provides immune protection.
Children receiving the vaccine for the first time that only
get one dose can have reduced or even no protection from the flu. Please note
that it usually takes about two weeks after the second dose for protection against
the flu to begin, so be sure to schedule the second dose as early as you can
after the 28-day period.
There are antiviral drugs for children aged one year and
older that can reduce flu symptoms and help a child get better more quickly,
but these drugs need to be approved by a doctor. They should also be started
during the first two days that a child is sick for them to work best. Your
doctor can discuss with you if these drugs are right for your child.
Many private doctors and parish health units provide
immunizations. Call your health care provider or parish health unit to make a
vaccination appointment. You can also check the Shots for Tots website for immunization
outreach efforts in your area.
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