Influenza (flu) is an infection caused by the influenza virus. It infects the respiratory tract—the nose, throat and lungs.
The flu can cause mild to severe illness, pneumonia, and other complications. During community outbreaks of influenza, children are more likely to get infected than other age groups; particularly school-aged children.
Kids under age 5, but especially those younger than 2 years old, and children and teens with chronic health conditions are at highest risk for serious flu complications. These flu complications can result in hospital stays—or worse. The best way to protect your child is to make sure they get a flu vaccine every year.
How do I know if my child is at greater risk for flu-related complications?
Your child is at higher risk if they have any of the following conditions:
Asthma
Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions:
Disorders of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscle.
Cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability, moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy or spinal cord injury
Chronic lung disease (such as cystic fibrosis, or chronic lung disease of prematurity)
Heart disease (such as
congenital heart disease and congestive heart failure)
Blood disorders (such as
sickle cell disease)
Endocrine disorders (such as
diabetes mellitus)
Kidney disorders
Liver disorders
Obesity (childhood obesity is defined as a
body-mass index at or above the 95th percentile, for age and sex)
Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
Weakened immune system due to conditions like
HIV or AIDS, cancer and bone marrow or solid organ transplantation
Weakened immune system due to medications like chronic steroids or other immune suppressive treatment
Receiving long-term aspirin therapy for chronic disorders
Being
pregnant or in the postpartum period during the influenza season
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Symptoms of the flu can include:
*Note: some people sick with flu may not have a fever.
What are flu complications in children?
Most people who get the flu recover in a few days to less than 2 weeks. But for some, the flu can cause serious health problems and can even be life-threatening.
Pneumonia, bronchitis and sinus and ear infections are examples of complications from the flu. The flu can also make chronic health conditions worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have the flu.
In rare cases, the flu can affect the brain. Neurologic complications can range from
febrile seizures to severe encephalopathy (dysfunction of the brain) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
The flu can also cause inflammation of the heart, which is called myocarditis. These conditions may cause long term effects or in some cases, result in death.
How can I protect my child from the flu?
For pregnant women and infants
If you are pregnant and get the flu vaccine, the antibodies your body makes protect both you and your baby.
Infants younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness but are too young to get vaccinated.
People who care for them should be vaccinated instead in order to protect them.
If your child is 6 months or older,
the most important thing is for them to get a flu vaccine every year.
How to prevent an infection
Make sure your child
does not get close contact with people who are sick. Encourage them to
avoid touching their eyes, nose, mouth, and to use a tissue or elbow to cough or sneeze into.
Remind your child to
wash their hands often (or help them do it) with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. If you don't have soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Keep surfaces in the house and toys clean by wiping them down with a household
disinfectant according to the directions on the product label.
If your child has a chronic health condition, make sure that they are up to date with their primary care provider and specialists. Finally, have a flu prevention plan in case your child becomes sick.
What can I do if my child gets sick?
Talk with your doctor
Call or
take your child to the doctor if they develop flu-like symptoms. The doctor may want to begin
antiviral drugs as quickly as possible. Since the flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not work.
Fever is a sign that your child's body is fighting the infection, and fever-reducing medicines are not always necessary. However, ask your doctor which
fever-reducing medicine could help based on your child's age. Keep in mind the following precautions:
Children younger than 4 years of age should not be given
over-the-counter cough/cold medicines without approval from a health care provider.
Aspirin should not be given to children or teenagers who have the flu; it can cause a rare but serious illness called
Reye's syndrome.
Distance and care at home
Excluding doctor visits,
keep your child at home until they no longer have a fever for at least 24 hours and are feeling more like themselves.
Keep your sick child in
a separate room (sick room) in the house to limit contact with other members of the household who are not sick and designate a main care giver for them.
Make sure your child
gets plenty of rest and drinks fluids to keep them from becoming dehydrated. Ensure that your child
covers coughs and sneezes to prevent the spread of germs.
Pregnant people need to be cautious
Pregnant people should avoid getting infected. The most effective way is getting the flu vaccine. If possible, a pregnant person should not be the main caregiver of a child with the flu until they recover.
When can my child go back to school after being sick?
Your child should stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone. A fever is defined as 100.4° F (38.3° C) or greater. The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen).
Is the flu shot safe for children with chronic health conditions?
Yes. The flu shot is approved for use in children 6 months and older, including both healthy children and those with chronic health problems. Because children with chronic health conditions are at a higher risk of getting flu related complications, it is especially important that they get a flu shot.
Your child might have a variety of mild and temporary reactions to the vaccine. They may feel pain and tenderness on the site of the injection. Your kid might also experience fever within 24 hours after vaccination, as well as nausea, fatigue, headache or muscle aches and chills. Other types of reactions include nasal congestion and sore throat. If your child has asthma, they might experience wheezing.
What type of vaccine should my child receive and how many doses?
If your child is between the ages of 6 months and 8 years old and receiving the flu vaccine for the first time, they will need 2 doses spaced one month apart from each other.
Children 9 years of age and older need only one dose. Talk with your doctor to discuss how many doses are recommended for your child.
The flu vaccine can be administered at the same time with other immunizations, including the COVID-19 vaccine. (Learn more in "Which Flu Vaccine Should Children Get?")
How can I plan ahead with my child's school or child care?
Find out how your child's school or child care providers plan for flu season. Let them know your child is at high-risk for flu-related problems.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends that all children 6 months and older, especially those with chronic health conditions, get a seasonal flu vaccine.
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