How to Protect Your Child From the Flu

Protecting Your Child From the Flu

Flu season is back. Here’s what parents need to know about flu symptoms in children and how to keep their kids healthy.

Devise your battle plan, moms and dads. Flu season is here.

Flu season could be in full swing as early as October and can last through May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That means pharmacies and doctors’ offices are geared up for the fight, too, and are armed with vaccinations.

Yet it takes a total of two weeks for the influenza vaccination to kick in and start doing its job, the CDC reports, meaning timing for the vaccination and keeping your kid healthy in the interim is important.

What are the vaccination options? Is there anything you can do at home to prevent the spread of the flu? Here are the weapons you’ll need to ward off the virus this year.

Flu symptoms in children

A person who has the seasonal flu will begin showing signs abruptly, and they usually worsen during the first three days, WebMD says.

The highly contagious virus is easily spread among children because they spend a lot of time cooped up in classrooms sharing space, toys and various classroom objects. According to WebMD, your child might display the following symptoms if she has the flu:

• Extreme tiredness
• Dry cough
• Vomiting
• Belly pain
• Body aches and headaches
• Chills paired with a high fever

Defend your family with vaccinations

If that doesn’t sound like fun, there are some things you can do to prevent the flu. No. 1? Get a vaccination.

The shot-form of the vaccine – a common route – is approved for use in people 6 months and older, the CDC says.

Children as young as 2 years old and people as old as 49 also have the option of receiving a nasal-spray version of the vaccine, it notes. However, be cautious: The nasal-spray vaccine is not approved for unhealthy or pregnant people, people with weakened immune systems and some others, the CDC adds.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older – especially women who are pregnant, people who are 65 and older and those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes – get vaccinated, and do so every year.

So when should the family take a trip to the pharmacy or doctor’s office? As soon as the vaccine is available, the CDC suggests.

To find a vaccination location and to see if there are reported cases of the flu nearby, visit Flu Near You.

Prevent the spread of the flu at home

It is possible to get the flu regardless of vaccination, the CDC warns. But that doesn’t mean it’s a losing battle. There are natural ways to prevent illness, too.

Some strategies to get the little ones in the practice include washing hands and getting aerobic exercise regularly, WebMD suggests.

Other techniques WebMD recommends is to sneeze and cough inside of your elbow instead of the hands, don’t touch your face and relax daily.

This post was originally published in 2012 and has been updated for 2016.

SOURCE: http://www.metroparent.com/daily/health-fitness/childrens-health/preparing-kids-for-seasonal-flu-this-school-year/?mqsc=E3825788&utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=metroparent_full+MP%20Daily+MP%20Daily&utm_campaign=021016_Wednesday