Flu symptoms in children.

Influenza can be dangerous for children because their immune systems are not fully developed and they cannot be vaccinated until six months of age. Here's how to recognize the signs of illness in your child and when to seek treatment.
Unfortunately for parents, children are not immune to the flu. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children under the age of 5, especially children under the age of 2, are more likely to develop flu complications such as pneumonia and dehydration. Influenza vaccination is not recommended for children younger than 6 months of age, so it is important to know the symptoms of influenza in children and receive appropriate treatment. Here's what you need to know.
Flu symptoms in children.
Children often have a sudden onset of severe chills with a high fever (sometimes diarrhea or vomiting). Children with the flu are also worried because they feel terrible.
Flu symptoms in children include:

  • Fatigue
  • Cough
  • A stuffy or runny nose
  • Fever (at least 100 degrees F)
  • Cool or shake
  • Sore throat
  • Gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting or diarrhea


Flu prevention for children.

Parents should take this respiratory infection seriously. Children younger than 6 months are at the highest risk of hospitalization and have the highest mortality rate from influenza. This is mainly because their immune systems are not fully developed and they are less likely to get a flu shot.

Studies show that if you get vaccinated during pregnancy, your factor reduces your baby's risk of developing diarrhea by 41 percent in the first six months. Not only does it protect mothers from the flu, but it has also been shown to prevent babies from getting the flu in the first few months of life before they are vaccinated.

Side effects of the flu vaccine for children.

A common misconception is that flu shots don't cause illness. That's because, according to the CDC, most vaccines are given with an inactivated virus or use a single gene from the flu virus (rather than the whole virus). However, children may experience minor side effects, such as low-grade fever, aches, pains, or redness after the injection.

If your child has difficulty breathing, wheezing, hives, dizziness, fast heart rate, or other worrisome symptoms, inform pediatric urgent care.

When to call your doctor about childhood flu symptoms.

If your child has a fever, see a pediatrician the same day. You can confirm that you have the flu by checking the rate of nasal secretions. Your healthcare provider may be able to give you antiviral medications.

One of the most common complications of the flu is pneumonia, which occurs when the flu virus travels from the nose and throat to the lungs, or when a bacterial infection occurs. There is rarely a cure for viral pneumonia. Bacterial pneumonia requires antibiotics.

Urgent care for kids if your child has serious symptoms, including:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Breathing fast
  • High fever (or fever in babies less than 12 weeks old)
  • Blue face or lips
  • Chest pain
  • Symptoms of dehydration
  • Inability to wake up
  • Extreme commotion
  • Stretching the ribs while breathing
  • Visits
  • Worsening of chronic health conditions
  • A fever or cough that goes away then comes back and gets worse.

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