Flu in Children: Danger, Risks, and Recommendations

Caused by influenza virus, the flu or influenza is often confused with cold because of its symptoms like runny nose, coughing, and sore throat. But flu is more dangerous than ordinary cold. It includes worse symptoms like body aches, fatigue, head ache, high fever, and stomach aches. In addition, children, who are highly vulnerable to diseases because of their weak immune system, can suffer more serious complications than adults.

Severe influenza complications are most common in children younger than two years old. Thus regular medical care should be provided to children before they reach the age of five. In fact, it is reported that around 20,000 children under five years old are hospitalized each year because of influenza. On the other hand, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that there have been 86 cases of children died due to flu complications during the 2007-2008 flu season. It is also advised that children with asthma, diabetes and other chronic diseases are given with proper medication and care because they are highly vulnerable to flu-related problems.

Children are at higher risk of getting seasonal influenza and flu-related diseases. Children younger than six months are highly exposed to flu complications but are not yet approved for flu vaccinations. Since there is still no immunization for half-year old children, parents and child care providers should get immediate vaccination to prevent infections affecting children.

However, when children reach six months, they are already approved to take immunizations. In fact, children from six months to five years old are most commonly hospitalized because of flu infections. In the United States, there are approximately 20,000 children younger than five years old are taken into hospitals due to influenza each year. Just to make sure, other young children, parents, and care givers should be also vaccinated to prevent other sickness.

At the same time, children aged six months or older with chronic diseases such as asthma, immune suppression, kidney disease, heart problem, anemia, diabetes, HIV or AIDS, and other dysfunctions like spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, and neuromuscular disorders are highly susceptible to flu-related disease. Since they are highly at risk of getting influenza, child care givers should always remember to regularly check children’s health condition and consult a doctor to prevent future complications.

CDC highly recommends that all children aged six to 59 months get a flu vaccine available in their community. At the present, it is seen that vaccination is the best way to prevent diseases. Aside from young children, parents, caregivers, and other people in contact with groups of children are advised to get flu vaccination immediately. Those people are the ones who have contact with children younger than five years old, who are child care providers and nannies of children below five years of age, and those who live with or have contact with children having chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, etc. All of them as well as health care providers should be vaccinated at least once a year to ensure that their children are protected from the flu.

See: How to start a childcare service