Flu Information
Flu:
A Guide for Parents
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by
influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. Flu is
different from a cold and usually comes on suddenly. Each
year flu causes millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands
of hospitalizations, and tens of thousands of deaths in the
United States.
Flu can be very dangerous for children. CDC estimates that
between 2010 - 2020, between 6,000 and 27,000 children
younger than 5 years old have been hospitalized from fl
u
each year in the U.S. Flu vaccine is safe and helps protect
children from flu.
What parents should know
How serious is u?
While flu illness can vary from mild to severe, children
often need medical care because of flu. Children younger
than 5 years old and children of any age with certain
long-term health problems are at increased risk of flu
complications like pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus and ear
infections. Some health problems that are known to make
children more vulnerable to flu include asthma, diabetes
and disorders of the brain or nervous system.
How does flu spread?
Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly by droplets made
when someone with flu coughs, sneezes or talks. These
droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people nearby.
A person also can get flu by touching something that has flu
virus on it and then touching their mouth, eyes, or nose.
What are flu symptoms?
Flu symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny
or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, feeling tired
and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea (more common in
children than adults). Some people with flu will not have a
fever.
Protect your child
How can I protect my child from flu?
The first and best way to protect against flu is to get a
yearly flu vaccine for yourself and your child.
§ Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months
and older every year. Flu shots and nasal spray flu
vaccines are both opti
ons for most children.
§ It’s especially important that young children and children
with certain long-term health problems get vaccinated.
§ Caregivers of children at higher risk of flu complications
should get a flu vaccine. (Babies younger than 6 months are
at higher risk for serious flu complications, but too young to
get a flu vaccine.)
§ Pregnant people should get a flu vaccine to protect
themselves and their baby from flu. Research shows that
flu vaccination during pregnancy can protect the baby
from flu for several months after birth.
§ Flu viruses are constantly changing so flu vaccines are
updated often to protect against the flu viruses that
research indicates are most likely to cause illness during
the upcoming flu season.
Are flu vaccines safe?
Flu vaccines have an excellent safety record. Millions of
people have safely received flu vaccines for decades. Flu
shots and nasal spray flu vaccines are both options for
vaccination. Different types of flu vaccines are licensed
for different ages. Each person should get one that is
appropriate for their age. CDC and the American
Academy of Pediatrics recommend an annual flu vaccine
for all children 6 months and older.
What are the benefits of getting a flu vaccine?
§A flu vaccine can keep you and your child from getting
sick.
When vaccine viruses and circulating viruses are
matched, flu vaccination has been shown to reduce risk of
getting sick with flu by about 40 to 60%.
§
§
Flu vaccines can keep your child
from being hospitalized for
flu
in the pediatric intensive care unit.
One recent study showed that
flu vaccine reduced children’s risk
of flu-related pediatric intensive
care unit admission by 74%.
Flu vaccine can be life saving in
children.
A study using data from recent flu seasons found that flu
vaccine reduced the risk of flu-associated death by half
among children with higher risk medical conditions
and by nearly two-thirds among children without medical
conditions.
§ Flu vaccinaon also may make your illness milder if you
do get sick.
§ Geng yourself and your child vaccinated also can
protect others who may be more vulnerable to serious
flu illness, like babies and young children, older people,
and people with certain long-term health problems.
What are some other ways I can protect my
child against u?
In addition to getting a flu vaccine, you and your child
should take everyday actions to help prevent the spread
of germs.
Stay away from people who are sick as much as possible to
keep from getting sick yourself. If you or your child are sick,
avoid others as much as possible to keep from infecting
them. Also, remember to regularly cover your coughs
and sneezes, wash your hands often, avoid touching your
eyes, nose and mouth, and clean surfaces that may be
contaminated with flu viruses. These everyday actions can
help reduce your chances of getting sick and prevent the
spread of germs to others if you are sick. However, a yearly
flu vaccine is the best way to prevent flu illness.
If your child is sick
What can I do if my child gets sick?
Talk to your doctor early if you are worried about your
child’s illness.
Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks
enough fluids.
If your child is 5 years or older and does not have a long-
term health problems and gets flu symptoms, including a
fever and/or cough, consult your doctor as needed.
Children younger than 5 years old – especially those
younger than 2 years – and children of any age with certain
long-term health problems (including asthma or any lung
disease, heart disease, diabetes and disorders of the brain
or nervous system), are at higher risk of serious flu
complications. Because children at higher risk of serious flu
complications can benefit from early antiviral treatment of
flu, parents of such children should contact their child's
doctor if they develop flu symptoms.
What if my child seems very sick?
Even healthy children can get very sick from flu. If your
child is experiencing the following emergency warning
signs, you should go to the emergency room:
§ Fast breathing or trouble breathing
§ Bluish lips or face
§ Ribs pulling in with
each breath
§ Chest pain
§ Severe muscle pain (child
refuses to walk)
§ Dehydration (no urine for 8
hours, dry mouth, no tears
when crying)
§ Not alert or interacting
when awake
§ Seizures
§ Fever above 104°F
§ In children less than 12 weeks,
any fever
§ Fever or cough that improve but
then return or worsen
§ Worsening of chronic
medical conditions
This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical
provider for any other symptom that is severe or concerning.
Is there a medicine to treat u?
Yes. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines that can be
used to treat flu illness. They can shorten your illness and
make it milder, and they can prevent serious complications
that could result in a hospital stay. Antivirals work best when
started during the first two days of illness. Antiviral drugs are
recommended to treat flu in people who are very sick (for
example, people who are in the hospital) or people who are at
higher risk of serious flu complications who get flu symptoms.
Antivirals can be given to most children and pregnant people.
How long can a sick person spread flu to
others?
People with flu may be able to infect others from one day
before getting sick to up to five to seven days after. Severely ill
people or young children may be able to spread the flu longer,
especially if they still have symptoms.
Can my child go to school, day care, or camp if
he or she is sick?
No. Your child should stay home to rest and to avoid spreading
flu to other children or caregivers.
When can my child go back to school after
having flu?
Keep your child home from school, day care, or camp for at
least 24 hours after their fever is gone. (The fever should be
gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) A fever is
defined as 100°F (37.8°C)* or higher.
*Many authorities use either 100 (37.8 degrees Celsius) or 100.4 F (38.0 degrees Celsius) as
a cut-off for fever, but this number can vary depending on factors such as the method of
measurement and the age of the person.
For more information, visit
www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/children.htm or call 800-CDC-INFO
CS320361A
