Getting Your Household By the 2024 Flu Season

It’s that point of 12 months – flu season. We’re seeing many circumstances of Influenza at St. Louis Kids’s Hospital. However hopefully, your baby is not going to be certainly one of them. Right here is a few details about influenza that can assist you maintain your baby wholesome this flu season.

What’s Influenza?

Influenza is a contagious respiratory sickness brought on by influenza viruses, which trigger gentle to extreme signs and in some circumstances, result in hospitalization and even loss of life. There are two varieties of influenza viruses, A and B. Each trigger seasonal outbreaks annually, referred to as the influenza or flu season. The flu season often begins within the fall and might final till the tip of spring. When there’s an outbreak or epidemic within the winter months, the sickness tends to be extra frequent in preschool and school-aged youngsters; nevertheless, it may unfold shortly amongst teenagers and school college students, too.

Who’s Most at Danger from the Flu?

Kids youthful than 5 years previous, particularly these youthful than two years previous, and kids and adolescents with sure underlying situations (equivalent to continual respiratory situations) are at highest threat of growing issues from the flu. That’s the reason it’s extremely beneficial that these youngsters get an influenza vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that every 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 standard
• 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 usually grow to be extra distinguished.

How Lengthy Does the Flu Final?

The flu can often final per 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 just a few days. Kids with influenza are a lot sicker, achier, and extra depressing.

Is there Remedy for the Flu?

Some issues can enhance your baby’s signs. Kids will profit from further relaxation and consuming extra fluids. In case your baby is uncomfortable as a result of fever, acetaminophen or ibuprofen (for youngsters six months or older) could assist. Be sure to test that you’re utilizing the proper 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 will not be efficient in remedy. Nonetheless, there’s a prescription antiviral medicine for influenza, and it may be useful if taken through the first 1-2 days of signs. If you happen to really feel your baby’s signs simply began, speak to your pediatrician about getting your baby examined for influenza and probably beginning the medicine. The medicine is particularly beneficial in youngsters at most threat for extreme sickness from the flu (youngsters beneath 5 years previous, these with underlying well being situations, or these round others who’re in danger for extreme issues from flu).

It’s best to speak to your pediatrician in case your baby’s signs last more than per week or in the event that they develop new signs, equivalent to ear ache or strain of their head that don’t go away.

When is the Flu an Emergency?

The flu is an emergency in case your baby develops signs equivalent to hassle respiration or uncommon speedy respiration, 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 previous. In these circumstances, go to the emergency division instantly!

How can we Forestall the Flu?

As at all times, good hand hygiene is necessary to forestall the flu, in addition to staying dwelling if you happen to or your baby are having any signs and protecting your baby out of college/childcare whereas having any signs. Nonetheless, getting the influenza vaccine annually is the easiest way to forestall the flu. In case your baby hasn’t gotten it but, ask your pediatrician if it might 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 unwanted side effects and will be given to all youngsters older than six months, even these with egg allergy symptoms. The vaccine can also be beneficial whereas pregnant and for healthcare staff.

In case your baby begins to have flu-like signs, our Washington College Kids’s After Hours areas present handy medical care on your baby’s diseases and accidents as a sooner various 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, Degree I pediatric trauma middle is positioned. St. Louis Kids’s Hospital has six pediatric E.R. areas throughout the St. Louis and southern Illinois area. These embrace St. Louis Kids’s Hospital, Kids’s Hospital at Memorial Hospital Belleville, Kids’s Hospital at Memorial Hospital Shiloh, Kids’s Hospital at Missouri Baptist Medical Middle, Kids’s Hospital at Northwest HealthCare, and Kids’s Hospital at Progress West Hospital.

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