Getting Your Household Via the 2024 Flu Season

It’s that point of yr – flu season. We’re seeing many instances of Influenza at St. Louis Youngsters’s Hospital. However hopefully, your little one is not going to be certainly one of them. Right here is a few details about influenza that will help you preserve your little one wholesome this flu season.

What’s Influenza?

Influenza is a contagious respiratory sickness brought on by influenza viruses, which trigger delicate to extreme signs and in some instances, result in hospitalization and even loss of life. There are two forms of influenza viruses, A and B. Each trigger seasonal outbreaks annually, often called the influenza or flu season. The flu season often begins within the fall and may final till the top of spring. When there may be an outbreak or epidemic within the winter months, the sickness tends to be extra frequent in preschool and school-aged youngsters; nevertheless, it could possibly unfold rapidly amongst teenagers and faculty college students, too.

Who’s Most at Danger from the Flu?

Youngsters youthful than 5 years outdated, particularly these youthful than two years outdated, and kids and adolescents with sure underlying situations (reminiscent of persistent respiratory situations) are at highest danger of creating problems from the flu. That’s the reason it’s extremely really helpful that these youngsters get an influenza vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that each one youngsters get a flu vaccine yearly beginning at six months of age.

What are the Signs of the Flu?

Signs of the flu embrace:

• Sudden fever (often above 100.4 Fahrenheit)
• Chills
• Headache
• Physique aches
• Being extra drained than traditional
• Sore throat
• Congestion/stuffy nostril
• Dry, hacking cough
• Some youngsters could have vomiting or diarrhea

After the primary few days of signs, the sore throat, stuffy nostril, and dry cough typically turn into extra distinguished.

How Lengthy Does the Flu Final?

The flu can often final every week and even longer. You may distinguish the flu from the frequent chilly as a result of usually, youngsters with the frequent chilly have solely a low-grade fever, runny nostril, and small quantity of coughing, and signs solely final a couple of days. Youngsters with influenza are a lot sicker, achier, and extra depressing.

Is there Remedy for the Flu?

Some issues can enhance your little one’s signs. Youngsters will profit from further relaxation and ingesting extra fluids. In case your little one is uncomfortable because of the fever, acetaminophen or ibuprofen (for youngsters six months or older) could assist. Be sure that to verify that you’re utilizing the right dosages of each. Do NOT give aspirin as a result of youngsters with influenza can develop a situation referred to as Reye syndrome, which could be very severe.

As a result of the flu is a virus, antibiotics should not efficient in remedy. Nevertheless, there’s a prescription antiviral remedy for influenza, and it may be useful if taken throughout the first 1-2 days of signs. When you really feel your little one’s signs simply began, speak to your pediatrician about getting your little one examined for influenza and doubtlessly beginning the remedy. The remedy is particularly really helpful in youngsters at most danger for extreme sickness from the flu (youngsters below 5 years outdated, these with underlying well being situations, or these round others who’re in danger for extreme problems from flu).

You must speak to your pediatrician in case your little one’s signs last more than every week or in the event that they develop new signs, reminiscent of ear ache or stress of their head that don’t go away.

When is the Flu an Emergency?

The flu is an emergency in case your little one develops signs reminiscent of hassle respiratory or uncommon speedy respiratory, pale, gray, or blue-colored lips or pores and skin, ribs that appear to be they pull in with every breath, chest ache, muscle ache so extreme that they refuse to stroll, dehydration (no urination for eight hours and dry lips/mouth/pores and skin), not interacting with you whereas awake, seizures, or any fever in a baby lower than 12 weeks outdated. In these instances, go to the emergency division instantly!

How can we Stop the Flu?

As at all times, good hand hygiene is vital to forestall the flu, in addition to staying dwelling if you happen to or your little one are having any signs and maintaining your little one out of faculty/childcare whereas having any signs. Nevertheless, getting the influenza vaccine annually is one of the best ways to forestall the flu. In case your little one hasn’t gotten it but, ask your pediatrician if it will nonetheless be useful. There are each shot and nasal spray variations, and so they begin to have a protecting impact about two weeks after they’re given. The influenza vaccine has only a few negative effects and might be given to all youngsters older than six months, even these with egg allergy symptoms. The vaccine can be really helpful whereas pregnant and for healthcare employees.

In case your little one begins to have flu-like signs, our Washington College Youngsters’s After Hours places present handy medical care to your little one’s sicknesses and accidents as a quicker different to E.R.s when your pediatrician’s workplace is closed.

In case of a medical emergency with a baby, decide the place the closest accredited, Stage I pediatric trauma middle is positioned. St. Louis Youngsters’s Hospital has six pediatric E.R. places throughout the St. Louis and southern Illinois area. These embrace St. Louis Youngsters’s Hospital, Youngsters’s Hospital at Memorial Hospital Belleville, Youngsters’s Hospital at Memorial Hospital Shiloh, Youngsters’s Hospital at Missouri Baptist Medical Middle, Youngsters’s Hospital at Northwest HealthCare, and Youngsters’s Hospital at Progress West Hospital.

Good luck this flu season! We’re right here for any questions and to judge your little one if they’re having any signs.