Flu is a common disease in all ages but is most common in children. The disease has symptoms quite similar to colds, so many parents are confused and subjective. If not diagnosed and treated properly, flu in children can get worse and cause many dangerous complications. Therefore, parents should carefully learn about flu in children to have appropriate preventive measures for their children, especially in this transitional weather! 

1. Find out what flu is in children?

As a disease related to respiratory tract infection caused by influenza virus, influenza in children often breaks out strongly in winter and spring (from November to April). Influenza virus is highly contagious and spreads rapidly through the respiratory tract, especially in crowded places such as schools, kindergartens, supermarkets, etc.

Each year, there are an estimated 1 billion cases of seasonal flu, 250,000 – 500,000 deaths from seasonal flu and 3 – 5 million severe cases of seasonal flu according to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO). Children under 5 years old, especially children under 2 years old, are at high risk of serious complications from seasonal flu.

Flu in children is a very common disease, especially in winter.

2. What causes flu in children? 

Flu is caused by influenza viruses and is divided into 3 types: influenza A, influenza B and influenza C. The common types of influenza viruses in Vietnam are influenza A/H3N2, influenza A/H1N1 and influenza B. Not only that, these influenza viruses also have the ability to change their genetic structure, creating new virus strains, resisting the body’s immunity and maintaining influenza in children .

The mechanism of influenza virus structural transformation is divided into two main groups:

• Antigenic shift: This is the virus strain associated with the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, which has the ability to spread rapidly because the human body has not yet fully developed immunity to this virus strain. This phenomenon is caused by a sudden change in genetic structure. 
• Antigenic drift: Due to gene mutation, the surface antigen of the virus has a sudden small change, creating the phenomenon of structural change Antigenic drift. For this not too big change, the child’s immune system can still fight the new virus through the cross-reaction mechanism.

Influenza virus is the main cause of disease

3. How is the flu usually transmitted in children?

The virus can spread through the air through small droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes and spreads quickly to people in close contact. The virus in the droplets will enter the respiratory tract through the nose and mouth of the person in contact and start the disease.

In addition to direct contact, children can also be infected indirectly through contact with surfaces, objects, and toys that have been in close contact with sick people. The flu virus can survive for quite a long time in the environment, so children can accidentally get infected if they touch their eyes, nose, or mouth after handling objects near sick people.

In addition to being transmitted from person to person, influenza viruses can also be transmitted from poultry to people. Because of its rapid spread, influenza can easily become an epidemic, especially during the change of seasons each year. The period of infection can last longer than a week for young children and they can be infected 1 day before the onset of flu symptoms.

Flu is spread through close contact with sick people. 

4. Signs that your child has the flu

The average incubation period for flu in children is 2-4 days. After that, the disease begins with typical symptoms of sudden high fever. Depending on the age, health status and constitution, the child’s body may show some other symptoms when having flu such as:

• Sore throat
• Dizzy
•  Anorexic
• Headache
• Chills
• body aches
• Nausea
• Chills
• Cough
• shiver
• Diarrhea
• Stuffy nose, runny nose

5. Why does the flu thrive in winter?

According to scientists, winter is the time when the flu virus is equipped with a layer of antibodies. This protective layer increases resistance, helps the virus survive in the air for a long time and increases the risk of infection. 

To make it easier to understand, the low temperature in cold weather will help the flu virus create an outer layer that acts as an armor. After entering the body, this membrane will dissolve and the virus will start to work, penetrate the body’s cells and cause the flu. And especially, this membrane will not be formed when the temperature is warmer, so the flu virus will have difficulty surviving in the air for long. That is also the reason why the flu in children develops strongly when the weather turns cold.

Stuffy nose and runny nose are some of the signs that your child is about to catch a cold.

6. How to take care of children with flu in winter?

The flu in children is not too dangerous if parents take care of their children properly. After 1-2 weeks of treatment and care, the child’s health will be restored to normal. However, in cases where the child has weak resistance and is not monitored and cared for properly, it is easy for the disease to develop into more serious complications such as otitis media, pneumonia or bronchitis…

Here are some things to do when taking care of flu in children that parents need to equip themselves with:

6.1 Regularly monitor your child’s body temperature 

Regularly monitoring your baby’s body temperature is the most important thing to do when your baby has a cold. Your baby’s health can change in a complicated way, monitoring your baby’s body temperature will help parents detect abnormalities and take timely measures. If your baby’s body temperature still shows no signs of decreasing, and the fever persists, parents should take their baby to the nearest medical facility for more appropriate treatment.

Monitoring body temperature will help parents detect abnormalities and take timely measures.

6.2 Supplement nutrients for children’s bodies

Influenza in children weakens the child’s physical condition and immune system. Therefore, supplementing nutrients for the body is an effective way to improve and enhance the child’s resistance. In addition to high fever, influenza can be accompanied by other signs of health deterioration such as vomiting, digestive disorders, anorexia, loss of appetite and even diarrhea… This is also the main cause of electrolyte loss and dehydration in children.

Parents should prioritize choosing easily digestible, liquid foods such as porridge, soup or soft foods. Parents also need to build a suitable diet for their children, alternating vegetables and meat and fish to ensure nutrients, give children plenty of water every day and supplement electrolytes through fruits such as guava, tangerine, orange…

Parents should supplement nutrients to increase children’s resistance against flu viruses.

6.3 Let your baby rest more

Flu will make children’s bodies tired and lethargic because they have to spend more energy to fight the virus. Therefore, parents need to let their children rest and recuperate more, sleep is also a way for children to recover their health. Parents should let their children sleep in a cool, comfortable and airy space so that they can sleep better.

6.4 Give your child the correct dose of medicine

Depending on the severity of the disease, symptoms and health status of the child, the doctor can provide a treatment plan as well as prescribe appropriate medication for the child. Parents need to give their child medication regularly and in the correct dosage as prescribed by the doctor! Here are some commonly prescribed medications for the flu in children such as:

• Oseltamivir (antiviral antibiotic): Indicated in cases of flu complications in children or with risk factors such as children under 5 years old, congenital immune deficiency, malnutrition, obesity, bronchial asthma…
• Antibiotics: Will be prescribed by your doctor in case of secondary infection.
• Acetaminophen and ibuprofen: These are two pain relievers and fever reducers that are often prescribed for children with the flu. Note, aspirin is contraindicated for children because it can cause Reye’s syndrome. 

Give your child the correct dosage of medicine as prescribed and directed by your doctor.

6.5 Wipe baby with warm water

This is a quick and popular method of reducing fever. Parents should wipe their baby with a warm towel in case their baby has a high fever and the temperature has not decreased after taking fever-reducing medicine. Parents will use a soft towel soaked in warm water and all over the baby’s body, especially the forehead, armpits and groin. Note that parents should not use alcohol, wine or cold water to wipe the baby because it can cause an adverse reaction, causing the baby to catch a cold and become more serious with the flu. 

7. When should you take your child with the flu to the doctor?

Flu in children is a common disease, especially when the weather turns cold. If treated and rested regularly, the disease will subside after 1-2 weeks. However, if parents are subjective because they think it is a common cold and do not treat it, the child will be at risk of dangerous complications such as: encephalitis, acute myocarditis, otitis media or sinusitis… 

Children should be taken to the doctor immediately if they have a cold and unusual symptoms.

Therefore, parents need to pay attention to monitor their child’s health and take the child to a medical facility immediately for examination if the following symptoms appear: 

• High fever that does not go down and does not respond to antipyretics.
• Rapid breathing, pale face, difficulty breathing and sunken chest.
• Stomach pain and chest tightness.
• The child is lethargic or cries constantly.
• Convulsions occur.
•  Vomiting continuously, loss of appetite.
• Children show signs of dehydration, dry lips and mouth, yellow and little urine, fussiness…

The flu in children may not be dangerous and will go away after 1-2 weeks with proper care. However, parents should not be complacent and neglect to monitor their children’s health. In the process of caring for a sick child, if you detect any unusual symptoms as mentioned above, you should take your child to the nearest medical facility for examination and treatment immediately!