What To Do If You Think Your Child Has Swine Flu

Don’t Panic When your Son or Daughter has H1N1 Flu-Like Symptoms

Oct 11, 2009 Sue Cartledge

It's flu season, and parents are worried about their children and H1N1 flu. However, public health officials say don't rush to the ER, but stay calm and follow these tips

The flu season is upon us and naturally parents are concerned that their children might catch swine flu (H1N1 flu). Public health officials from Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes and Australia’s health departments advise staying calm, as despite all the media alarm, for the most part, swine flu is no worse than seasonal flu.

They offer these tips for caring for your child in flu season. They apply equally well to seasonal flu as to H1N1 flu.

Symptoms of H1N1 (Swine) Flu

The symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to symptoms of regular influenza:

• Fever (temperature of 100 F, 38 C) or greater, as well as:
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Body aches and extreme fatigue (tiredness)
• Coughing, sneezing, runny nose
• Vomiting and diarrhea

If You Think your Child has Swine Flu

Don’t be unduly alarmed, the health experts say, and don’t rush to your doctor or emergency room.

Stay calm, as most cases of flu cause mild illness, which, while unpleasant, generally does not require a stay in hospital.

The majority of patients recover from the H1N1 flu in three to five days with no problems, much like recovery from seasonal flu.

Keep Your Child in Home Quarantine

If you think your child has swine flu, keep them at home. Don’t send them to school, pre-school, playgroup, or any other group activity, to avoid infecting others.

While at home, keep them away from other children and adults. If anyone else in the household develops any flu symptoms, especially a fever, also keep them quarantined at home.

The best treatment regime for flu infection is bed rest, plenty of fluids (especially if there is vomiting or diarrhea) and paracetamol, acetominophen or ibuprofen, as directed on the label, to relieve fevers, headache and body aches.

Keep the sick child at home until at least 24 hours after the fever has gone and they have stopped taking any fever-reducing medications.

Practice Good Hygiene During Quarantine

Hygiene is always important, but even more so, when you're dealing with sick people. Bear these points in mind:

• Everyone should wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
• Do not share eating utensils, drinking glasses, washcloths, towels, beds, pillows, etc. until everyone in the household has been free of symptoms for five days.
• Catch coughs and sneezes in the elbow crook or with a tissue and throw away the tissue immediately.
• Use a tissue for a runny nose, then dispose of the it immediately.
• After using a tissue, wash your hands with soap and water, or with an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

Should You Seek Medical Treatment for Your Child with Flu??

The children most likely to need medical treatment from their doctor for swine flu infection are those who are very young, or who have serious medical conditions (such as cancer or lung disease, or are on dialysis).

If you think your child needs medical treatment, call your pediatrician or GP’s office first. Your doctor may speak with you over the phone and recommend treatments rather than have you come into the office, where your child could infect other people.

If you absolutely must go to your doctor, have your child wear a mask and tell the staff immediately about the flu-like symptoms so you can be placed in an area away from other patients.

When Should You Go to the ER?

You should only call for an ambulance or go to the ER if your child with flu shows these signs:

• Has rapid breathing or trouble breathing
• Has bluish skin color
• Is not drinking enough fluids
• Is not waking up or not interacting with people as usual
• Is very irritable, doesn’t want to be held
• Has worsening fever and cough
• Has fever with rash

You might also find these helpful: Swine Flu Myths and What to Do About the Flu and Swine Flu - Pregnant Women Should Take Care

The copyright of the article What To Do If You Think Your Child Has Swine Flu in General Medicine is owned by Sue Cartledge. Permission to republish What To Do If You Think Your Child Has Swine Flu in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Keep Your Sick Child at Home with Flu