More than 6 million children and teens in the United States have asthma, making it the most common chronic disorder among children. For children who have experienced an asthma attack and their parents, it is not only a frightening experience but the attack can lead to hospitalization or death.
Because of their pre-existing respiratory condition, asthmatics are at high risk of complications if they contract influenza. Yet, less than one-third of all children with asthma receive an annual flu shot.
“Children with asthma are not only at high risk of getting the flu but of developing a complicated influenza-related infection,” said Dr. Carol Baker, Executive Director, Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research at Texas Children’s Hospital and past president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). “There are a number of respiratory viruses that can bring on an asthma attack that may cause a child to have to go to the emergency room or be hospitalized. The only trigger that we can protect these children from is influenza and that protection comes in the form of the flu vaccine.”
All children with asthma, no matter if they have a mild or severe case, need to receive the flu vaccine and parents need to realize that a stomach flu and influenza are not the same illness. “Parents would recognize what chickenpox looks like but the flu has no face and not enough people know that 36,000 Americans die every year from influenza, including about 100 children.”
Even though flu season has officially begun, it is not too late to receive a flu shot. The 2008-2009 flu season lasted from December through April with some lingering cases in May. Parents of asthmatic children should make an appointment with their pediatrician or family practitioner to get the flu shot as soon as possible because the vaccine does not provide 100 percent protection in children.
It’s also important that all members of the family of an asthmatic child should receive the flu vaccine. “It’s not unusual for a person with the flu to be able to infect others one day before symptoms become obvious and up to five days after becoming sick,” said Baker. “Protecting both the child with asthma as well as the entire family from the flu should be a top priority.”
Want more information on colds and the flu?
Visit the Texas Children's cold and flu resource page.
