From the Triage Desk

It’s been a long few years for parents.

In 2020, with the emergence of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, we scrubbed our groceries, locked ourselves in the house, took our kids out of school, and started masking. We dealt with a shortage of supplies nationwide (and around the world) and navigated our own mental health while trying to help our children with theirs. Hospitals and clinics were inundated with sick patients, and we all waited patiently for a vaccine. Then the vaccine came, and we celebrated. Masks slowly came off and in-person learning – and life – started to feel normal again.

But of course, nothing lasts forever. Now we are being fed a steady stream of scary news about this year’s flu (influenza) season. It’s a lot, we know. So, let’s break it down and discuss what’s happening.

Experts often make predictions about what our flu season will look like based on how the Southern Hemisphere fairs. This year, our friends in Australia saw an uptick in respiratory illnesses and flu diagnoses earlier in the season than normal. Why? For starters, we are all working to flex our immunity “muscles” again. Masking and social distancing protected us from COVID-19, but it also protected us from other viruses that we were regularly exposed to in the past. So now that we have removed restrictions, our immunity needs to gain some of its strength back. It will happen over time, but it makes sense that we are playing a bit of catch up right now.

The flu is typically most severe in the elderly and in kids under 5 years of age. There are some little ones who are being exposed to the flu for the first time ever when in the past, they would’ve had exposures and developed some immunity earlier on in life.

So – do we panic?

No. Having a healthy respect for the dangers of the influenza virus is reasonable but we don’t need to lock ourselves in the house. Get your child a flu vaccine (available to children 6 months of age and older) and have them mask or stay home if sick. Teach your children how to sneeze and cough into their elbows since the flu is a respiratory illness and is spread via droplets. And most importantly, teach them how to wash their hands and wash them WELL.

If you or your children end up with the flu, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Fever (temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose/stuffy nose
• Muscle/body aches
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea (more common in children than adults)

Should children take Tamiflu if they test positive for Influenza or have an exposure? It depends. Our general recommendation is to manage the virus without Tamiflu as it only shortens the duration of symptoms by a day or two. It can also cause diarrhea and vomiting which can worsen an already unpleasant experience. However, depending on your child’s age and other risk factors (asthma, diabetes, heart disease, living with an immunocompromised family member, etc.) it may be appropriate and something worth discussing with your child’s pediatrician.

So, what do we do then? We treat the flu like any other virus. We push fluids, get rest, and take ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to reduce fevers and body/muscle aches. Typically, symptoms will resolve within a few days to two weeks.

What if they don’t? If flu symptoms persist and your child is getting worse (e.g., a deeper, more persistent cough, fever that is still present after 48 hours or will not come down with fever-reducing medication, etc.), call your pediatrician. On occasion, secondary infections like pneumonia arise from the flu and need to be treated with antibiotics. If your child is in any respiratory distress (retractions or “belly breathing,” a bluish hue to the lips or face, wheezing, or fast breathing), seek immediate medical attention.

Remember, when in doubt, give us a call. We are always happy to help!

Sources:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/09/23/1124311571/flu-season-2022-covid-twindemic
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/symptoms.htm