Protect Your Child This Flu Season
Flu season is the time of year when the flu virus is most common and typically begins as the weather gets colder
. This flu season, be prepared and take proper preventative measures to protect your child and yourself from the virus. Annual outbreaks of seasonal flu occur during the fall until the early spring, with the overall health impact varying from year to year. Unfortunately, rates of infection, hospitalization and deaths can't be predicted. But by identifying flu symptoms and knowing more about flu treatment and prevention options, you can be better prepared to face the flu season.
What You Should Know About The Flu
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. It affects all age groups, though children appear to suffer from the flu more often than adults do. The flu can often be confused with the common cold, but symptoms of the flu are typically more severe than the sneezing and sniffles of a cold.
Symptoms usually begin about two days after exposure to the virus and can include:
*A sudden fever (usually above 103 degrees)
*Chills and body shakes
*Headache, body aches and begin more tired than usual
*Sore throat
*Stuffy, runny nose
*Dry, hacking cough
After five days, fever and other symptoms will generally have disappeared but a cough and weakness may continue. All symptoms are usually gone within a week or two, but it is important to treat the flu seriously because it can lead to pneumonia and other life threatening complications, particularly in infants, seniors and people with long term health problems.
Prevention Is Key
Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 6 months and older. The flu vaccine is generally offered between September and mid-November, although it may be given at other times of year as well. The vaccine helps to reduce the average person's chances of catching the flu by up to 80 percent during the flu season. Make sure to talk to your North Potomac pediatrician about whether a flu vaccine is appropriate for your child.
There is no guaranteed way, including a vaccine, to 100 percent prevent anyone from catching the flu. Avoiding large crowds can help, but it is often impossible to keep your child away from this during flu season. Here are some ways to stop the spread of the flu:
*Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap.
*Don't pick up used tissues
*Never share cups and eating utensils
*Keep your child home from school when they are sick
*Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
If your child is sick with the flu, they should stay home from school and childcare settings until they do not have a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
To learn more about the flu or to schedule an appointment, contact your Gaithersburg pediatrician today.
by: Gen Wright
The flu and its complications Prevent seasonal Flu with Quercetin, a Natural Gene-Eden Component Natural Remedies to Combat Cold and Flu and Boost the Immune System Cold and Flu Remedies Cold and Flu Medications How to combat colds and flu this season How the Flu flies? Why Get a Flu Vaccination Cold and Flu Remedies or The Flu Shot? What Causes Stomach Flu Vermont and How Can I Fight It? Can Marijuana Prevent H1n1 virus? Countdown to Flu 2010: Flu vs. Ear Infection Cold and Flu Natural Prevention