Keep your child safe and healthy during flu season with knowledge, preparation, and practical prevention.
Continue reading for helpful flu season tips for parents and learn how to treat flu in kids with Prestige ER’s compassionate, child-friendly team.
How Does Flu Season Affect Children?
Children under seven years old do not have fully developed immune systems, making seasonal flu viruses especially dangerous. Flu viruses can cause high fevers, body aches, coughs, and other uncomfortable symptoms, increasing their risk for complications like pneumonia, dehydration, ear infections, and sinus issues.
Flu Symptoms in Children
Common symptoms of type A flu in kids include:
- Fever.
- Muscle aches.
- Coughing and sneezing.
- Fatigue.
- Headache.
- Runny or stuffy nose.
- Vomiting and diarrhea.
- Breathlessness or rapid breathing.
Flu Prevention Tips for Parents
Here are essential flu season tips for parents:
Start With the Flu Vaccine
Getting your child an annual flu vaccine helps their body produce the antibodies necessary to protect them from an active flu virus. The vaccine is made from inactivated flu viruses, so it cannot make your child sick.
Flu vaccines are recommended for everyone over six months old, including pregnant women.
Keep Your Child Home During Illness
Keeping your child at home when they are sick helps prevent the spread of illness, protecting other children and adults. It also gives your child the time they need to rest and recover.
Once your child feels better and is fever-free for at least 24 hours, they can safely return to school. If you are unsure, please check with your child’s pediatrician or visit Prestige ER for a comprehensive evaluation.
Boost Your Child’s Immune System
Protect your child with these healthy tips for flu season:
- Fill their plates with fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, and leafy green vegetables.
- Ensure they get enough sleep every 24 hours.
- Infants 0-3 months: 14-17 hours.
- Infants 4-12 months: 12-16 hours.
- Toddlers 1-2 years: 11-14 hours.
- Preschoolers 3-5 years: 10-13 hours.
- School-age 6-13: 9-12 hours.
- Teens 14-17: 8-10 hours.
- Keep them physically active and let them play outside to help them develop a stronger immune system.
- Teach them how to wash their hands properly.
- Teach them to cough and sneeze into their elbow.
- Limit processed foods and sugars.
- Practice good hygiene, like washing bedding and clothes.
Keep Surfaces Clean and Disinfected
A flu virus can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours. To avoid spreading the flu to others, clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, faucets, light switches, countertops, phones, and remotes with a product that is proven effective against flu and other viruses.
Encourage Regular Handwashing
Remind your children to wash their hands regularly with warm water and soap to remove germs and help protect themselves and others from the flu and other illnesses.
When to wash their hands:
- Before eating or preparing food.
- After using the restroom.
- After touching raw meat or produce.
- After coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose.
- After toughing their eyes, nose, or mouth.
- After coming in contact with someone who is sick.
Note: If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Practice Proper Coughing and Sneezing Etiquette
If your child is sick, keep them home to avoid spreading germs to others. Here is how you and your child can practice proper coughing and sneezing etiquette:
- Always cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow, upper arm, or a tissue.
- Always turn away from others when you cough or sneeze to help limit their exposure.
- Always throw away your used tissue immediately after use.
- Always wash your hands with warm soap and water (or hand sanitizer) after coughing or sneezing.
Teach Your Child About Avoiding Close Contact With Sick Individuals
Your child may not understand how germs and illnesses spread from person to person, so it’s important to teach them how to prevent the flu and avoid getting sick. This may include things like avoiding close contact with sick individuals, practicing frequent hand washing, and understanding the importance of vaccines.
5 Flu Prevention Myths and Facts
- Myth: You can get the flu from the flu vaccine.
Fact: The vaccine is made from inactivated flu viruses, so it cannot make you or your child sick. - Myth: You do not need to get the flu vaccine every year.
Fact: The flu virus changes (mutates) every year, so it’s important to get an annual flu shot to ensure you have immunity to the strains most likely to cause an outbreak. - Myth: You cannot spread the flu if you’re feeling well.
Fact: 20-30% of people carrying the flu virus do not have symptoms. - Myth: You can catch the flu by going out in cold weather without a coat, with wet hair, or by sitting near a drafty window.
Fact: While flu season coincides with cold weather, the only way to get the flu is through exposure to the flu virus. - Myth: You do not need the flu vaccine if you received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Fact: The COVID-19 vaccine will not protect you from or help you prevent the flu since they are two different viruses. However, you can get both vaccines at the same time.
When Should I Call the Pediatrician About My Baby’s Flu Symptoms?
Call your pediatrician or visit your nearest emergency room if your infant has one or more of the following flu symptoms:
- A fever higher than 104° F (40° C).
- A fever that lasts longer than three days.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Vomiting.
- Signs of dehydration (decreased urine output or tears).
- Diarrhea.
- A cough that lasts longer than three weeks.
- A runny nose that lasts more than 14 days.
- An earache or sinus pain.
- General discomfort, fatigue, or loss of appetite.
How Prestige ER Can Take Care of Your Child’s Health
Prestige ER offers prompt assessment and expert care in a child-friendly environment. Our medical staff are specially trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of childhood illnesses and injuries, including fevers, respiratory issues, head injuries, broken bones, allergic reactions, and more.
Our locations are equipped with advanced diagnostic tools like X-rays, ultrasounds, and CT scans to accurately diagnose your child’s condition and provide appropriate, same-day treatment.
Our pediatric emergency room offers a full spectrum of diagnostic services, including X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound, and an on-site lab. You can count on receiving a rapid diagnosis and treatment for your child.
Prestige ER is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for patients throughout the San Antonio, TX, area.
