Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never delay seeking medical advice or treatment from a professional because of something you have read on this or any website.
Without fail, cold and flu reason rolls around every year like clockwork.
Some seasons are mild and some, not so much. Being sick is never a fun thing to experience – especially when you’re a child.
CARING FOR YOUR CHILD DURING COLD AND FLU SEASON
It’s not always easy to determine if your child has a cold or the flu because the flu can mimic a cold when it first begins.
If your child does become ill, there are several symptoms that can make it easier to tell the difference between a cold and the flu.
COLD SYMPTOMS
With a cold, a child will usually get a sore throat with a runny nose and cough – and they may or may not have a fever.
FLU SYMPTOMS
With the flu, it hits fast and hard with a similar sore throat and cough, but the key difference is that flu brings with it muscle aches, fatigue, and higher fever. Signs of a high fever that parents will want to watch out for are lethargy, chills, faster breathing, headaches, and in some cases, hallucinations.
Usually, when a child is ill and his symptoms are mild, he can be cared for at home. However, there are warning signs that indicate it’s time to take your child to the doctor:
- Ear pain (because it could indicate there’s an ear infection)
- Sinus headache
- a fever that won’t go away or is higher than 101
- chest pain
- trouble breathing or raspy breath
- Vomiting – If your child is vomiting and unable to keep food or liquid down, he can be at risk of dehydration and should be seen.
If a fever is present, allow him to take a lukewarm bath – never put them in a cold bath. While fevers do help the body kill the germs causing the illness, they can make a child feel pretty miserable, so use a fever-lowering drug like acetaminophen.
If your child has a cough, especially one that’s interrupting his sleep, you can use a cough suppressant – but only if it’s age-appropriate.
Push as many fluids as your child will tolerate in the form of water, Jell-O, Popsicles, or chicken soup!
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