Is the flu a matter of concern for a child? The answer is a big yes. The stomach form of the virus affects kids more often than adults. Also, the mental aspect of having the flu is more intense for children. If your child has a rather weak immune system, the problem is likely to be more pronounced as they struggle to fight the virus.
Conventional Methods of Treating the Flu
If you find symptoms of flu in your child, give them sufficient rest and avoid strenuous exercise . Despite their objections, be firm and keep them inside and rested. It is essential to make their body withstand the disease.
Proper hydration will be all the more useful for combating the flu. Water is the easiest solution, but there are benefits from sports drinks with isotonic properties, such as Gatorade. A common side effect of the flu is diarrhea. Replenishing these lost liquids is a big concern when maintaining their health. It goes without saying that tobacco and alcohol should not be consumed. These substances reduce the immune system and can make the virus worse.
You may be tempted to a give a dose of aspirin. But do not do it. Despite the fever that accompanies it, there is a risk of Reye Syndrome, that could result from taking aspirin . It is a rare but really harmful liver condition. Keep in mind that the rise in body temperature is a natural defense for fighting off infection such as influenza.
Medication
Antadine, eltavimir, and rimantidine are three of prescription anti-viral drugs recommended as a flue remedy. There is one other, zanamivir, that has been approved by the U.S. in the treatment of influenza.
The main problem with the flu virus is that it reproduces and spreads itself in the human body. Over the counter drugs available at your local pharmacy may be able to relieve the body aches, runny noses, cough and fatigue, but do little to treat the virus itself. The drugs typically contain pain relievers, antihistamines, decongestants, and expectorants. Despite having their benefits, they are only limited solutions and she be taken with care.
It is advisable not to experiment with alternative flu remedies. These methods have not been tested and/or approved by any governing or regulatory body in the medical field. It is possible that these treatments may do nothing to aid in the healing of the flu and may make matters worse. Even if the treatment has proved effective for yourself, do not try it on your child. It is in your interest and your child's interest to visit your family doctor.
Cold and Flu in Children
By: Peter Hutch
Typically, parents are told to just treat the symptoms of a cold or the flu and make their child comfortable, because these common infections are caused by viruses and there are no treatments. While symptomatic treatments are important to help your child feel better, this is not totally true anymore. There are many medications available now to help treat the flu.
The common cold, also known as a viral upper respiratory tract infection, is a contagious illness that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses. Because of the great number of viruses that can cause a cold and because new cold viruses develop, the body never builds up resistance against all of them. For this reason, colds are a frequent and recurring problem. In fact, on average, preschool children have nine colds a year, those in kindergarten, 12 colds a year; and adolescents and adults, seven colds per year.
Flu symptoms are highly contagious, particularly when people share close quarters as children do in school classrooms. Flu is spread among children when a child either inhales infected droplets in the air (coughed up or sneezed by an infected person) or when the child comes in direct contact with an infected person's secretions. This can happen, for example, when they share pencils at school or play computer games and share the remotes or share utensils such as spoons and forks.
Children ages 6 months to 5 years are considered in the high risk group because they are more likely than older children to be hospitalized or develop serious complications from the flu. However, the panel believes covering all children up to age 18 will cut down dramatically on transmission among kids (who spread it most easily) and even among adults who often get the flu from their kids.
Post-infectious cough, usually without phlegm, may last for weeks to months after the flu symptoms go away and may keep a person up at night. This cough has been associated with asthma-like symptoms, and can be treated with asthma medications. Consult your doctor if you have this kind of cough.
During Cold and Flu in Children, they need to be dealt with special care. Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Facts about Flu states that children are at high risk of complications and serious illness from the cold and flu. If there is cold and Flu in Children, they should be take complete rest. Call your pediatrician if the fever last more than three to four days, or if your child complains of trouble breathing, ear pain, congestion in the face or head, or a persistent cough.
Diagnosis of a cold or the flu may include a thorough medical history as well as a physical examination. It is not usually necessary to run additional tests to diagnose a cold or the flu, but these tests may help identify other conditions that may be causing the symptoms.
The best way to prevent Cold and Flu in Children is by getting an annual flu shot. The "flu shot" does not contain live virus. It is an inactivated vaccine that is given by injection. It is approved for use in anyone older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions. All children aged 6 to 23 months should get a flu shot because they are at high risk of complications.