Preventing Flu
Preventing the Flu From Spreading
There’s no guaranteed way — including being vaccinated — to prevent anyone from getting the flu. Avoiding large crowds can help, but it’s often impossible to keep kids cooped up.
Here are some practical ways to help prevent the spread of the flu:
- Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
- Never pick up used tissues.
- Never share cups and eating utensils
- Stay home from work or school when you’re sick with the flu.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Treatment
Cases of the flu rarely require specific medical treatment. But some kids with chronic medical conditions may become sicker with the flu and need to be hospitalized, and flu in an infant can also be dangerous. For a severely ill child or one with other special circumstances, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine that can ease flu symptoms, but only if it’s given within 48 hours of the onset of the flu.
These at-home tips can help most otherwise healthy kids cope with the flu. Have them:
- drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration
- get plenty of sleep and take it easy
- take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve fever and aches (but do not give aspirin unless your doctor instructs you to do so)
- wear layers, since the flu often makes them cold one minute and hot the next (wearing layers — like a T-shirt, sweatshirt, and robe — makes it easy to add or subtract clothes as needed)
When to Call the Doctor
Call the doctor if your child:
- has flu symptoms
- has a high temperature
- seems to get better, but then feels worse than before
- has any trouble breathing, seems confused, or seems to be getting worse
For the most part, though, the flu is usually gone in a week or two with a little rest and tender loving care.
