As the weather continues to change and we get deeper into flu season, it’s important to know what symptoms to watch for in our children. There are some similar symptoms shared by both the common cold and the flu. But, since the flu can be much worse, it’s crucial that parents know the difference between those symptoms.
Often, we tend to associate stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting with the flu. While those may indicate that your child is suffering from stomach flu, there are other key symptoms to be sure to watch for. These include high fevers, chills, sore throats and headaches.
Unfortunately, the flu is highly contagious. When children are in close quarters with other children, such as a classroom, it doesn’t take long for one sick child to spread the flu to someone else. Typically, a person with the flu can be contagious at least one day before symptoms appear. This can last up to 7 days after becoming sick. Any time another child or teacher comes in direct contact with any type of secretion from an infected child, the flu can be spread. This includes infected droplets in the air from a sneeze or cough.
Even though flu symptoms are somewhat similar to cold symptoms, the flu tends to hit harder and faster causing children to feel sick very quickly. The most common flu symptoms you may see in your child include:
High Fever – 101 – 104 degrees
Chills that come with the fever
Body aches including headaches
Dry cough
Sore throat
Fatigue and sleepiness
Vomiting
In some cases, the symptoms can get pretty bad and may require addition medical attention. You should bring your child to AllKids Urgent Care right away if they exhibit any of the following:
Difficulty breathing
Pain in the chest or abdomen
Dizziness
Blue coloration of lips
Seizures
Severe or persistent vomiting
We understand that, when a child begins to show these symptoms, it’s easy to get anxious and overreact. It’s important to stay calm, but seek the help your child needs right away.
If you have any other questions or concerns about the flu and its symptoms, be sure to give us a call or stop by one of our offices. We’re happy to share our insight with you.
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