This current flu season is one of the worst that we have seen in years. Unfortunately, it is not yet over which means that more people are at risk of not only getting sick but of dying. Therefore, it is important to get yourself and your family to your family physician’s office or local clinic to get the flu shot. Even if you do contract the flu and do not die from it, you are putting others around you at risk of death since they may have a compromised immune system. Although it is hard to pinpoint an exact number since not everyone has access to proper healthcare and because sometimes the cause of death is unknown, there has been almost 100 child deaths due to flu-related symptoms in the United States alone this flu season.
For the average adult with a typical immune system, the flu is almost never fatal. However, unfortunately the same cannot be said for individuals who have a weakened immune system like elderly individuals or those who are undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment. Moreover, children, especially before they reach the age of five are also at a higher risk of experiencing fatal flu related conditions. This risk is especially high for children who have not been vaccinated. If your child presents with flu-like symptoms, they should be taken to a doctor. However, sometimes understanding whether it is the flu or a cold (or something else) and how severe the illness is can be hard. Continue reading to learn about what symptoms to look out for when it comes to the flu in children.
How Does Your Child Feel?
Sometimes it is hard to know if a young child has the flu or is simply just fussy and sleepy. Older children may also present with similar symptoms, being more irritable than usual and more tired. These symptoms can be present with the common cold but, again, are more likely to be less severe. For instance, children with the flu will likely refuse to eat all together while a child with a common cold will likely eat certain foods, although they may also experience a decrease in appetite. Whether your child has the flu or a common cold it is important that you make sure to provide them with adequate nutrients and vitamins as they need both in order to speed up the recovery process.