The flu is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs by influenza viruses. There are many different influenza viruses, and some are more prominent than others in any given year. Flu infections are most common during "flu season" (approximately October to February).
The flu can be very dangerous for children. Each year about 20,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized with flu complications, such as pneumonia.
It's not always easy to tell. If it's flu season and your child has the following symptoms, there's a good chance that it's the flu:
If congestion or coughing shows up much before the fever, it's more likely your child has a cold.
Here's what the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends if your child develops flu symptoms:
If you have concerns, err on the side of calling your doctor. You know your child best, so trust your instincts.
Whether or not the doctor prescribes medication, you'll need to see that your child stays home and gets plenty of rest and – most important – plenty of fluids. Try offering frozen fruit bars and soup or broth.
For muscle aches and fever, give your child a pain reliever such as children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen. (Never give aspirin to a child unless your doctor has recommended it. It can trigger Reye's syndrome, a rare but life-threatening condition.)
Resist the urge to pressure your doctor for antibiotics, which kill only bacteria. A virus—not bacteria—causes the flu, so antibiotics won't do a thing. Antibiotics may be in order, however, if your child develops a secondary bacterial infection such as pneumonia, an ear infection, or bronchitis as a result of having the flu.
Your child should start feeling better in three to five days. The fever will break first, and then his appetite should return. But this is just an average—some kids (and adults) have a cough that hangs on for two weeks or more.
Call the doctor if your child:
Certain symptoms in children are a sign that urgent medical help may be needed. Call 911 if you notice: