Flu or Influenza

Influenza or flu is a viral infection that affects the upper portion of the respiratory tract, the nose and throat. It is a very common illness, caused by the influenza virus. The outbreak of this illness is more common among children than adults. However, the infections are more mild in children than in adults. The flu virus is of three types namely A, B and C. Developing immunity to these types of viruses and thereby being able to be protected from infection is not possible because each type of the flu virus has different strains that change from year to year. No one can be said to be immune because of the changing strains of the virus. Both children and adults have an attack of flu more than once, or even yearly. Influenza virus infection is seasonal and most common during winter. Flu spreads quickly from one to the other, especially in environments like workplaces, classrooms, etc where there is a close contact between people. Even at home, if one person is infected, there is every possibility of other members in the family getting affected. Spreading of the virus is quicker among children than among adults. Flu is a more serious infection than common colds. Flu confines children to beds, while colds still keep them active.

Video on Flu in Children - Part I

How does the virus spread?

The influenza virus is spread from one child to the other by direct contact. The virus which is usually found in the nose and throat, is passed on easily from one child to the other. The easy spreading occurs because children most often touch their noses, eyes and mouths, and touch other children during play. There are chances of parents getting infected from their children, because they do all the caring for their child and are in close contact with them. They hold their hands, pick them up, feed them and so on.

The virus may spread through droplets in the air. The droplets come from the nose and mouth when the child coughs or sneezes, and reach the noses or mouths of other children or adults who are nearby, by travelling through air.

The child with the flu passes on the virus from his hands to the objects he touches like toys, computers, books, furniture, drinking glasses, etc. The virus can stay alive for hours on these objects. When other children touch these contaminated objects, the virus gets on to their hands. Then they get infected when they touch their eyes, nose and mouth with their hands containing the virus.

Video on Flu in Children - Part II

Symptoms

The flu symptoms usually last for a week. Children and adults affected by the flu show the following symptoms:

• Feel sick
• Have high fever, usually above 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Head ache
• Body ache
• Loss of appetite
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Dry cough
• Feel very cold and shivery
• Extreme tiredness

Treatment

• Treat the child with most love and care, when he feels so unwell.
• Make him have extra bed rest, give more fluids like breast milk, water, diluted fruit juices and give foods which are easily digestible. The child may not like to eat more. In that case, more drinks frequently given would be sufficient to keep up his energy.
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen in proper doses recommended by the doctor will help the child feel better from fever. Do not give aspirin because there is an increased risk of it causing Reye syndrome.
• If the child has a runny nose, it is important to see that the nose is clean before feeding and before putting the child to sleep. Rubber suction bulb can be used to clean the nose in infants, older children can be instructed to gently blow the nose and to use a tissue.
• For a stuffy nose, the treatment is use of saline drops which will help in loosening the mucus. Follow it immediately in just one minute with use of rubber suction bulb to gently suck out the loosened mucus.
• A cold-water vaporizer in the room, will be helpful in easy breathing because it adds additional moisture to the air.
• Anti-viral drugs, prescribed by the doctor, can make flu symptoms milder and can shorten the duration of illness.

Prevention

• Keep your child and yourself away from people who have an attack of flu.
• Instruct your child to use a tissue while sneezing and coughing, and dispose it off properly.
• It is important to wash your hands both before and after caring for your child.
• Older toddlers and children must be taught to wash their hands frequently with soap and water, especially after playing and before eating.
• Do not share things like drinking glasses and other utensils, with the infected person. Wash them separately in hot, soapy water.

The best way to protect your child and yourself from an attack of flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. Scientists develop a vaccine against the most recently circulating strain of the virus every year, and this gives you a fair protection, or lessens severity of symptoms if you get affected by the flu. This vaccination is given a week to 4 months before the onset of the flu-season, which is usually the winter season.