The flu can have a range of symptoms and effects, from mild to
severe. This fall, 2 types of flu, seasonal and H1N1, will be
circulating in the United States. Most healthy people recover
from the flu without problems and don't need to go to the emergency
room or be hospitalized.
Download a fact sheet
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about what
to do if you or your child gets sick with the flu this season.
The symptoms of seasonal flu and H1N1 are similar, as both are
respiratory viruses. Symptoms can include:
- high fever
- headache
- tiredness
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- body aches
- diarrhea
- vomiting
A child with mild flu-like symptoms
should be kept at home resting, away from others, and should not
visit the emergency room. Treatment can
include fever-reducing medication (like Tylenol®), bed rest and clear fluids. The
child should stay home for at least 24 hours after his fever is
gone. Texas Children's Hospital is not testing or providing
treatment to patients who exhibit only mild flu symptoms.
If your child has more
acute flu-like symptoms, is at high risk of flu complications,
or you are especially concerned about your child's illness, call
your family's physician or primary care provider for advice on
treatment. People more likely to experience flu complications
include:
- Children younger
than 5, but especially children younger than 2
- People who have
chronic illnesses (like asthma, cancer or heart disease) or weakened
immune systems
You should seek immediate
medical attention if you or your child exhibits any of the emergency
warning signs listed below.
In children, these emergency warning signs include:
- fast breathing or trouble
breathing
- bluish skin color
- not drinking enough fluids
- not
waking up or not interacting
- being so irritable that the child
does not want to be held
- flu-like symptoms improve but then return
with fever and worse cough
- fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical
attention include:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- sudden dizziness
- confusion
- severe or persistent vomiting
Seek emergency medical care if you or your child is
experiencing any of these emergency warning signs.
