The most common symptoms of the flu are the sudden onset of a runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat from post nasal drip, cough, fever, which can be either low grade or very high, chills, muscle aches and pains, fatigue, headache, nausea, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Symptoms usually improve in two to three days and your child will usually get better on his own. There are some things you can do to make your child more comfortable as he recovers, including bedrest, plenty of fluids, a pain and or fever reliever, decongestants, cough suppressants, or use of a humidifier.
The flu can lead to complications, especially in young children and the elderly and in anyone with other chronic medical problems. Rarely your child may need to be hospitalized if he is having difficulty breathing or is dehydrated.
Remember that since the flu is caused by a virus, your child will not need treatment with an antibiotic to get better. Antibiotics do not kill the flu virus. There are some anti-viral medicines that may help your child get better quicker if he is infected with the Influenza A virus and if it is started within 48 hours of illness.
Since the flu is spread by coming into contact with the secretions of someone who is already infected, the best way to not get the flu is to teach your children to wash their hands often, especially before eating and to cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze. Children over six months can also get the flu vaccine each year, especially if they have a chronic medical problem.
