Timing
As we mentioned above, it can be hard to determine whether or not your child has the flu or a cold. One thing that distinguishes the two is the fact that the flu tends to come on suddenly while a cold usually takes longer. According to associate professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Flor M. Munoz, “the trick with the flu is that it happens very quickly. You have to be really paying attention. Things can progress within 48 hours or so.” It is common for a fever associated with the flu to last for three to four days. Therefore, if your child has the flu their symptoms should improve in about a week. However, do not be surprised if it takes longer than that for some symptoms to subside. If you find that they do not seem to go away and they worsen, speak to your child’s pediatrician.