The high fever, body aches, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and tiredness can come on suddenly, and leave you wondering how to help your child get better.
Take heart in knowing that while the flu may make your child feel miserable, most kids recover within a week or two. Here’s how to help your child in the meantime:
Make your child comfortable
Encourage your toddler to get plenty of rest. Offer clear liquids, such as water and broth, to make sure their bodies have enough fluids. If possible, keep your child in a separate room to reduce the chance of spreading the illness to others.
Ask about antivirals
Your child’s doctor may suggest antiviral medicines if they’ve only been sick for a day or two, or longer if your child has a health issue. These medications can make symptoms milder and shorten the length of the illness. In toddlers, antivirals may also lower the risk of ear infections, a complication of the flu. However, antivirals can cause unpleasant side effects. Note that antibiotics don’t work against viral illnesses, including the flu.
Treat your child’s symptoms
There are many over-the-counter (OTC) products that can help alleviate flu symptoms. If your child is younger than 2 years of age, call their doctor before giving any medicine. These medications can help relieve these symptoms:
- Fever: Single-ingredient acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help bring down a fever. Be careful to give your child the right dose and to space out doses correctly. Check the medication label or ask your child’s doctor or pharmacist for help with dosing. Never give aspirin to a toddler.
- Cough: Give one half teaspoon of honey to ease your child’s cough. Keep in mind that OTC cough medicine isn’t safe for toddlers.
- Stuffy nose: Saline nose drops or nasal sprays can help lessen nasal congestion. Using a cool-mist humidifier in your toddler’s room may also bring relief.
Know when to call the doctor
In some cases, the flu can lead to serious problems, such as pneumonia. Certain people are at higher risk for complications. This includes those with health issues, like asthma or diabetes, and children younger than 5 years of age. Give your child’s doctor a call if they have severe flu symptoms or symptoms that don’t improve each day. You should seek medical help right away if your child has flu symptoms with trouble breathing. If your child has a health condition, ask their doctor if there are any precautions you should take when they have flu symptoms.
Prevention is the best medicine
The flu shot is the best way to reduce your child’s risk of catching the flu. Make sure your child gets the vaccine each year. The flu shot is recommended for children 6 months of age and older. Washing hands often and avoiding contact with sick people can also help protect your child from the flu.
Sources:
What to do if your child gets sick with the flu. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/pdf/seasonal-flu/what_to_do_english_508.pdf
Children, the flu, and the flu vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/children.htm
Children and flu antiviral drugs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/children/antiviral.htm
Flu symptoms and complications. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/complications.htm
American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/medication-safety/Pages/How-to-Manage-Colds-and-Flu.aspx
The flu. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/The-Flu.aspx#flu#children & flu#cold & flu#symptoms
