Influenza in infants and toddlers

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Babies and young children are at high risk for complications from the flu. Flu symptoms that are more severe than cold symptoms can include fever, chills, body shaking, dry cough, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea. Influenza can be spread by contact with infected people or contaminated surfaces.

1. What is the flu and how does it affect babies and toddlers?

Influenza is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus. The flu can be dangerous and even deadly to babies. Young children, especially those younger than 2 years old, are at risk for serious complications if they get the flu. Each year about 20,000 people, most of them children under the age of 5, are hospitalized for flu complications such as pneumonia.
Flu infections are most common during "flu season," which lasts from about October to May. There are many different types of flu viruses, and in any given year, some are more common than others.

2. Symptoms and signs of flu in an infant or toddler

Flu symptoms in infants and toddlers typically include:
Fever (however, children can get the flu without having a fever) Chills and body shaking Dry cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Fatigue Poor appetite Earache or feeling of pressure in the head or face Sometimes vomiting and diarrhea (this happens in children, but not in adults) People with the flu also often have headaches and diarrhea. myalgia, although difficult to detect in infants or young children. Since your child may not be able to tell you what causes pain, you need to pay attention to how your child behaves. In general, babies seem more fussy, irritable, and sicker than they could be if they had a cold.
Infant and toddler flu symptoms vs cold symptoms. Both the common cold and the flu are respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. The flu often makes children (and adults) feel much more miserable than a cold. An infant or young child with a common cold often has:
No fever or mild fever (flu temperatures can be as high as 39.5 degrees Celsius to 41 degrees Celsius, while colds rarely cause fever) Runny or stuffy nose Only mild cough Symptoms come on gradually instead of suddenly

In certain cases, parents should call the doctor immediately if a baby or toddler has any typical flu symptoms to see if they should be seen. Even if you are not sure that your child has the flu, call the doctor if your child is under 12 months old and has any of the following symptoms:
Fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher if your child is under 3 months old (this infant fever could be a sign of an infection or serious illness) Fever higher than 39.5 degrees Celsius if your baby is 3 to 6 months old Fever higher than 39.5 degrees Celsius if your baby is over 6 months old Fever Cough that doesn't improve after a week According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), even children who are usually very healthy can get a dangerous flu.
If your baby or toddler has any of the following symptoms or conditions seek medical help right away:
Rapid or difficult breathing (ribs retract with each breath) Bluish skin color or gray Not drinking enough fluids (not urinating as much as usual is a sign of this; see other signs of dehydration) Severe or persistent vomiting Does not wake up or does not interact when awake Convulsions Fever over 40 degrees C So upset the child doesn't want to be confined Flu-like symptoms go away but then get a fever Typhus Other conditions (like heart or lung disease or asthma) and develop flu symptoms, including fever or cough Chronic medical condition getting worse

3. The spread of flu

If a child is near someone with the flu who is coughing or sneezing, they can breathe in infected droplets through their mouth or nose. People with the flu are usually contagious for a day or two before symptoms begin and five to seven days after. Children can be contagious for longer.
Children can also become infected if they touch something (eg a toy or a table top) that has the virus on it and then touch their mouth, nose or eyes. Studies show that flu viruses can live on surfaces for up to two days.
Because the flu spreads when people are in close contact, it spreads easily through schools, daycares, playgroups, and families. People usually get sick one to four days after exposure.
The severity of the flu varies from person to person, so it is possible to contract the virus without knowing it. If you only have mild symptoms, it's easy to think it's a cold and unknowingly pass the flu virus on to others.

4. Will children get the flu if their parents have the flu?

Maybe, but you can take steps to reduce the chance that your child will also get the flu:
If either of you has the flu, let a healthy person take care of your child as much as possible. If both you and your partner have the flu, consider asking a friend or loved one to help care for your child. Parents frequently wash their hands with soap and water. Do this every time you cough or sneeze, and before you come into contact with your child. If water is not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Don't touch your child's eyes, nose, or mouth, as these are easy routes for spreading your germs to them. Avoid too much face-to-face contact with your baby or toddler when you are sick. You can try wearing a mask to avoid breathing in her face. Clean indoor surfaces with a disinfectant. Soap and water work. Or try a solution of bleach and water, or a disinfectant labeled "EPA approved" to kill bacteria and viruses. Always follow the instructions on the product label.

5. Should mothers breastfeed their babies when they have the flu?

The flu is not transmitted through breast milk. In fact, breast milk contains antibodies that help protect your baby from the same infection.
If someone is helping you take care of your baby while you are sick, you can pump and have a caregiver feed your baby. (Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and clean the pump according to the manufacturer's instructions before pumping.) If you find that your breast milk supply drops a bit while you're sick, don't worry. Your milk supply should return to normal when you feel better. Contact your doctor or lactation consultant for assistance if you are concerned.

6. Treating the flu in babies and toddlers

Not all children with the flu need medicine. But because the flu can be very dangerous for children under 2 years old, including a 14-month-old with the flu or a 16-month-old with the flu. Treatment of this disease is usually using antiviral drugs.
Antiviral drugs work best when started within the first two days of illness. They can help a child feel better by making symptoms milder, and they can also help prevent serious complications, like pneumonia. The antiviral drug oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu) is approved to treat influenza in infants younger than 2 weeks, and the CDC recommends it to prevent influenza in children younger than 3 months. Antiviral medication guidelines change periodically, so ask your doctor about current recommendations.
Antibiotics only work against bacteria. A virus is not a bacteria that causes the flu, so antibiotics won't do anything. However, antibiotics may be needed if your child has a bacterial infection caused by the flu, such as pneumonia, an ear infection, or bronchitis.

7. Home remedies to help babies and toddlers get rid of the flu

Whether your doctor prescribes medicine or not, you can help keep your child from getting sick from the flu and feeling comfortable with the following measures:
Drink water: Make sure your child is drinking plenty of fluids. Feed your baby often if he's breastfed and bottle-feed as usual if he's bottle-fed. If your child is eating solid foods, try giving them frozen fruit bars and soups or broths. Rest: Keep your child at home so they get plenty of rest. Pain relief: If your baby seems uncomfortable, ask the doctor if you can give your child a pain reliever, such as children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen (if your child is 6 months or older and not dehydrated). or persistent vomiting). (Do not give aspirin to a child unless recommended by a doctor. Aspirin can cause Reye's syndrome, a rare but life-threatening condition. Also, do not give cough and cold medicines to a child or toddler. over-the-counter cold because they can cause serious side effects.)

8. The duration of the flu in babies and toddlers

Your baby will start to feel better after a week or two. The fever will first subside, and then the child's appetite will return. But this is just an estimate—some children (and adults) have a cough that lasts for two weeks or longer.

9. Some Precautions

Preventive measures include getting a flu shot, practicing good hygiene, and avoiding others getting infected.
9.1. Get a flu shot If your child is 6 months old or older, he or she can get a flu shot. The first time your child gets a dose, he or she will continue to receive a second dose and two doses four weeks apart. After that, your child will get one dose each year. The nasal spray vaccine is available for most children 2 years of age and older.
If the child is too young to be vaccinated, make sure everyone in close contact with the baby is vaccinated to limit potential exposure.
Get children vaccinated at the beginning of the season. In most years, flu outbreaks peak between December and February, but outbreaks can occur as early as October. And it takes several weeks for the body to develop antibodies against the virus. flu withdrawal. Ask your child's doctor when is the best time to vaccinate your child.
Vaccination is even more important if the child is in a high-risk group, for example if the child has diabetes, a weakened immune system, severe anemia, chronic heart or lung disease (including including asthma) or kidney disease.
The effectiveness of the flu vaccine depends on the child's overall health (more effective in healthy children) and how well the vaccine matches the virus currently circulating. Different strains of the flu virus circulate each year, and in some years the vaccine is nearly identical to others. Get a flu shot every year.
If a child gets the flu after being vaccinated, it is most likely because he or she has a strain of the virus that the vaccine does not cover. And of course, the shot won't protect your child from other viruses that can be like the flu.
That said, the flu vaccine gives children the best protection against the flu. And if a child gets the flu after being vaccinated, his symptoms are likely to be less severe.

9.2. Practice good hygiene Keep hands clean. Wash your child's hands with soap and warm water, and ask everyone in the household to wash their hands often. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available. Cover your mouth when coughing. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash immediately. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Sterilize. Regularly clean bathroom, kitchen, and toy surfaces with soap and water or an EPA-approved household disinfectant to kill bacteria and viruses. Avoid others who are sick Keep children away from people who may be sick. If someone in the family is sick, make sure that person stays as far away from the child as possible. Tell the doctor if your child has been in close contact with someone who has the flu. Your doctor may give your child antiviral drugs to stop the disease from developing. No matter how dedicated you are, children can still contract the virus. If a child does get the flu, the good news is that they're less likely to get it again in the same year because they'll be immune to that particular strain.

10. Some ways you can keep your child from getting the flu from others

While caring for a child, you can also take steps to prevent your child from spreading the virus to others:
Wash your hands with soap and water after you care for a baby or toddler. Limit contact with others when your child is sick. Wash dishes, utensils and any sippy bottles or cups with hot soapy water or put them in the dishwasher to disinfect. This will also help keep you from passing germs on to your baby. Do not allow younger siblings or visitors to use any of the children's toys, dishes, and other possessions. Besides, in order for children to be healthy and develop well, it is necessary to have a nutritious diet in terms of quantity and quality balance. If children are not provided with adequate and balanced nutrients, it will lead to diseases of excess or lack of nutrients, which adversely affect the comprehensive development of children in terms of physical, mental and motor skills.
The period of baby eating solid foods is an extremely important period to help children develop comprehensively. Children who do not eat properly are at risk of micro-mineral deficiencies, causing anorexia, growth retardation, malabsorption, etc. If they notice the above signs, parents should supplement their children with supportive products. The supplement contains lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet the nutritional needs of children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your child. Take care of the baby and the whole family.
Reference source: babycenter.com