The Flu:
A Guide for Parents
In uenza (also known as u) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by in uenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. Flu is di erent from a cold, and usually comes on suddenly. Each year u viruses cause millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospital stays and thousands or tens of thousands of deaths in the
United States.
Flu can be very dangerous for children. CDC es mates that since 2010, between 7,000 and 26,000 children younger than 5 years have been hospitalized each year in the United States because of in uenza. The u vaccine is safe and helps protect children from u.
What parents should know
How serious is u?
While u illness can vary from mild to severe, children o en need medical care because of u. Children younger than 5 years and children of any age with certain long-term health problems are at high risk of u complica ons like pneumonia, bronchi s, sinus and ear infec ons. Some health problems that are known to make children more vulnerable to u include asthma, diabetes and disorders of the brain or nervous system.
How does u spread?
Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly by droplets made when someone with u coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. A person also can get u by touching something that has u virus on it and then touching their mouth, eyes, or nose.
What are u symptoms?
Flu symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny
or stu y nose, body aches, headache, chills, feeling red
and some mes vomi ng and diarrhea (more common in children than adults). Some people with the u will not have a fever.
Protect your child
How can I protect my child from u?
The rst and best way to protect against u is to get a yearly u vaccine for yourself and your child.
§ Flu vaccina on is recommended for everyone 6 months and older every year.
§It’s especially important that young children and children with certain long-term health problems get vaccinated.
§ Caregivers of children at high risk of u complica ons should get a u vaccine. (Babies younger than 6 months are at high risk for serious u complica ons, but too young to get a u vaccine.)
§ Pregnant women should get a u vaccine to protect to protect themselves and their baby from u. Research shows that u vaccina on protects the baby from u for several months a er birth.
§ Flu viruses are constantly changing and so u vaccines are updated o en to protect against the u viruses that research indicates are most likely to cause illness during the upcoming u season.
Is u vaccine safe?
Flu vaccines are made using strict safety and produc on measures. Millions of people have safely received u vaccines for decades. Common side e ects from the u shot are soreness where the shot is given, headaches, muscle aches, and fever. These side e ects are generally mild and go away on their own within a few days. A u vaccine cannot cause u illness. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend an annual u vaccine for all children 6 months and older.
What are the bene ts of ge ng a u vaccine?
§ A u vaccine can keep you and your child from ge ng sick. When vaccine viruses and circula ng viruses are matched, u vaccina on has been shown to reduce the risk of ge ng sick with u by about half.
§ Flu vaccines can keep your child from being hospitalized from u. One recent study showed that u vaccine reduced children’s risk of u-related pediatric intensive care unit admission by 74%.
§ Flu vaccine can prevent your child from dying from u. A study using data from recent u seasons found that u vaccine reduced the risk of u-associated death by half among children with high risk medical condi ons and
by nearly two-thirds among children without medical condi ons.
§ Flu vaccina on also may make your illness milder if you do get sick.
§ Ge ng yourself and your child vaccinated also can protect others who may be more vulnerable to serious u illness, like babies and young children, older people, and people with certain long-term health problems.
What are some other ways I can protect my
child against u?
In addi on to ge ng a u vaccine, you and your child should take everyday ac ons to help prevent the spread of germs.
Stay away from people who are sick as much as possible to keep from ge ng sick yourself. If you or your child are sick, avoid others as much as possible to keep from infec ng them. Also, remember to regularly cover your coughs
and sneezes, wash your hands o en, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and clean surfaces that may be contaminated with u viruses. These everyday ac ons can help reduce your chances of ge ng sick and prevent the spread of germs to others if you are sick. However, a yearly u vaccine is the best way to prevent u illness
If your child is sick
What can I do if my child gets sick?
Talk to your doctor early if you are worried about your child’s illness.
Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks enough uids. If your child is 5 years and older without long-term health problems and gets u symptoms, including a fever and/or cough, consult your doctor as needed.
§ Not drinking enough uids (not going to the bathroom or not making as much urine as they normally do)
§ Severe or persistent vomi ng § Not waking up or not
interac ng
§ Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
§ Flu symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough
§ Fever with rash
Is there a medicine to treat u?
Yes. An viral drugs are prescrip on medicines that can be used to treat u illness. They can shorten your illness and make it milder and they can prevent serious complica ons that could result in a hospital stay. An virals work best when started during the rst 2 days of illness. An viral drugs are recommended to treat u in people who are very sick (for example, people who are in the hospital) or people who are at high risk of serious u complica ons. An virals can be given to children and pregnant women.
How long can a sick person spread u to
others?
People with u may be able to infect others from 1 day before ge ng sick to up to 5 to 7 days a er. Severely ill people or young children may be able to spread the u longer, especially if they s ll have symptoms.
Can my child go to school, day care, or camp if
he or she is sick?
No. Your child should stay home to rest and to avoid giving the u to other children or caregivers.
When can my child go back to school a er
having the u?
Keep your child home from school, day care, or camp for at least 24 hours a er their fever is gone. (The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) A fever is de ned as 100°F (37.8°C) or higher.
For more informa on, visit
www.cdc.gov/ u
or call 800-CDC-INFO
Children younger than 5 years of age – especially those younger than 2 years – and children with certain long-term health problems (including asthma, diabetes and disorders of the brain or nervous system), are at high risk of serious u-related complica ons. Call your doctor or take your child to the doctor right away if they develop u symptoms.
What if my child seems very sick?
Even healthy children can get very sick from u. If your child is experiencing the following emergency warning signs you should go to the emergency room:
§ Emergency warning signs of u:
§ Fast breathing or trouble breathing § Bluish or gray skin color
July 2017 | CS277094-B
