Flu in Children

Dr.Sameer Punia, 5 mins read

Flu is a highly contagious illness that can make your child sick. That’s why considering the flu vaccine is a good option. It makes your child well-equipped to handle the flu better.

Influenza, another name for flu, is brought on by the influenza virus. The virus spreads when a sick person releases infected droplets while coughing or sneezing and another person inhales them. A person can also get sick when he touches an object infected with those droplets.

Flu can inflame the nose, throat and lungs and affect the overall well-being of your child. In certain cases, the flu can be severe and turn into pneumonia. In such cases, your child needs immediate medical attention. The illness usually comes fast and affects more than a cold.

Signs and symptoms 

Most children get sick after two to five days of coming in contact with the flu virus. They usually experience:

• Chills
• Fever
  
• Nausea
  
• Ear pain
  
• Vomiting
  
• Dizziness
  
• Diarrhoea
  
• Tiredness
  
• Headache
  
• Sore throat
  
• Runny nose
  
• Loss of appetite
  
• Body pain and muscle aches
  

Diagnosis

If your child looks ill and miserable and shows the above-mentioned symptoms, you should take him to a hospital. The doctor will check your baby and ask some questions related to symptoms. Based on that, the doctor can identify whether the child has the flu.

However, there are many diseases which can show symptoms like the flu. In such cases, the doctor may need to conduct a test to confirm the problem. The doctor will take the mucus sample by wiping a long cotton swab inside the throat or nose and then send it for testing.

Treatment

• Drink fluids: This is one of the common treatment recommendations for flu. Fever, one of the common flu symptoms, having plenty of water during the flu is considered good as it improves general well-being.
• Get enough sleep: Make sure your child gets enough rest so that his body has enough energy to combat the illness.
• Stay inside: As flu is a highly contagious illness, it can spread easily. So, if you find your child is suffering from the flu, it’s better to keep your child indoors. This will also help in your child’s recovery as he’ll be able to properly rest at home.
• Take a doctor’s help: If your child has flu or flu-like symptoms, you should consult a doctor. He may prescribe some medicines to provide relief to your child.
• Bulb suction: If your child is too young to blow the nose, you may need a rubber bulb syringe or mucus extractor. A bulb suction syringe is made up of rubber that will help you gently remove mucus from your child’s nasal passageways if it is obstructing the airway.
• Use a humidifier: A humidifier improves the humidity level at home. Using it can make breathing easier. Humidifier also improves the moisture in the airways which helps clearing section and helps in clearing the lungs and bronchial tubes.

Prevention

Get flu shots: If your child is older than six months, you should talk to a doctor to get him vaccinated for the flu. A flu shot is the first line of prevention against the influenza virus. It can reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalisation and even life threatening illness.

Avoid contact with sick people: Keep your child and yourself away from sick people. If your child is school-going, teach him to maintain distance from sick students.

Maintain hygiene: Teach your child to frequently wash hands using soap and water. Also, teach him to avoid touching his eyes, nose or mouth without washing his hands.

Install a humidifier at home: Flu virus spreads more easily in dry air. Thus, improving the humidity levels may help reduce the spread of the flu. A good humidity level makes the survival of the influenza virus on surfaces and in the air at home difficult.

Also, Read: Food Allergies in Children