(What You Need to Know about Kids and the 2015 Flu Season first appeared in the Public Opinion Newspaper in January 2015. To read it online, visit www.publicopiniononline.com.) Dr. Michael Colli, Keystone Health’s Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director of Keystone Pediatrics, says kids are most susceptible to the influenza virus and should still get a flu shot this year.
What is the Flu?
The flu is a viral infection caused by the influenza virus. It causes fever, cough, headaches, sore throat, runny nose, congestion, body aches, and fatigue. Every year the flu has 3 to 4 circulating strains that can make someone ill. These strains have the potential to mutate or change from year to year. The more the strains change, the less natural immunity we have, and the more susceptible we are to contracting the illness.
This Year’s Strain
It has been theorized that one of the Influenza A strains has changed significantly from last year, which could make this season worse. In general, children are more susceptible to infectious diseases because their immune systems are less developed. Their immune cells have never seen most infections before and therefore many sicknesses will take longer for them to fight off. Like most viruses, almost everyone will recover fully and uneventfully with time.
Treatment Measures
To help keep children comfortable, acetaminophen or Ibuprofen can help with fever and achiness. A humidifier and saline nose drops can help with congestion and children should get rest and plenty of sleep. The anti-viral medication available only by prescription, Tamiflu, can help some with severe cases. Contact a doctor immediately if your child has trouble breathing, altered mental status, inability to keep any fluids down or fever that persists longer than 3 to 4 days.
Get a Flu Shot
As children are the most susceptible for severe influenza complications, they should be the highest priority to get protection. Each year vaccine manufacturers make an educated guess as to which strains of the flu will be circulating that season. They must begin making the vaccines months before the season starts to have enough vaccine available for all who need it. Sometimes the strain can be different than anticipated.
The Importance of the Flu shot
Even though the actual flu strain many are experiencing across the country isn’t an exact match to the current flu shot, it is important to note that the vaccine is STILL beneficial. There are always 3-4 circulating influenza strains, and some of them will always be matched to the vaccine. In other words, even if the vaccine does not offer protection to one type of Influenza A strain, it still offers protection to other Influenza A strains and Influenza B strains.
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