Cold and Flu Season, Let’s Fight it Out!!

March 24, 2016

The Flu comes every year. Sometimes it peaks early, surprising doctors as early as September or October, and other times, it runs through spring with a spike of fevered patients. Let’s fight out this Cold and Flu Season!

Colds are caused by common viruses that are spread from person to person and usually presents stuffy or runny nose and cough. The flu & cold season usually starts in fall and ends in spring. The illness tends to be more pronounced in preschool or school-aged children.

How can I prevent it?

Help avoid its spread by teaching children not to touch their face or bring toys to their mouth, and not to share drinks or utensils with others. Also teach your children how to cough or sneeze into their sleeves and to wash their hands frequently. Keep infants under three months of age from having close contact with sick children or adults. Flu Vaccination is especially important for all children 6 months of age and older, children of American Indian/Alaskan Native heritage, children with high risk conditions (like asthma and allergies) and children younger than 5 years.

What to expect?

Young children get an average of 8 to 10 colds each year. Symptoms are usually worst on the first two days before they start gradually getting better in about one or two weeks. Symptoms include: sudden fever, chills and body shakes, headache, body aches, tiredness, sore throat, dry/hacking cough, stuffy and runny nose. Some children may throw up (vomit) and have loose stools (diarrhea).

What to do?

You can keep your child comfortable by offering plenty of fluids, running a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier, and using over the counter pain and fever reducers. For stuffy noises, saline nasal drops or sprays can help. Also, chest ointments and cool mist might help with cough and nasal congestion. For children over a year, giving honey can be helpful for cough. Allow for plenty of rest.

How sick is too sick?

Call your Pediatrician immediately if your child has an underlying chronic medical condition, such as heart or lung disease, or, is under 3 months of age.

Healthy children usually get over the flu in about a week or two, without any lingering problems. However, you might suspect a complication if your child says that his ear hurts, has chest tightness or feels pressure in his face and head. Call your Pediatrician if your child has a high or persistent fever, white spots on tonsils, difficulty breathing, extreme tiredness, or dehydration. These can be signs of a complication or something more serious such a pneumonia, strep throat, or ear infection, and other treatments may be needed.

What NOT to do?

Cough and cold medicines are NOT recommended for children under six years of age; do not use unless your Pediatrician recommends it. Never give aspirin to a child who is suspected of having the flu. Aspirin during influenza is associated with an increased risk of developing Reye’s syndrome.

by: Lizaida Medina Candelaria, MD FAAP

Dr. Medina is a Board Certified Pediatrician and an active member of the AAP and Palm Beach Pediatric Society.