Flu Symptoms in Children

Influenza is commonly known as flu. This is an acute form of viral infection that affect the respiratory tract. Initially, the infection occur in the upper part of the respiratory tract - nose and throat. Later on, it may spread up to the lungs. Children are susceptible to this viral attack particularly in cold months in between November and March. Influenza virus is very contagious in nature and they spread rapidly from one infected child to others when they spend time together in classrooms and playground. It is transmitted when the liquid secretions released into the air while coughing up or sneezing are inhaled by non infected children. It also pass on when they share items like toys, remotes, spoons that are contaminated with flu secretions with each other.

Common Symptoms

Flu symptoms in children have lots of similarity with common cold symptoms. However, flu symptoms are comparatively more severe in nature. Here are the important identifiable signs and symptoms of flu in children:

High Grade Fever
A high fever is one of the earliest flu symptoms observed in small children. The rise in body temperature is actually an indication that the body is trying to eliminate the germs from the system. The body temperature mostly vary from 100F and 104F and it tends to fluctuate from time to time. When it is high, your child may have a flushed face but as it goes down he or she will experience chills. If your baby is less than 6 months, then he or she should be rushed to the doctor immediately after the body temperature is found to be above 100 F. Toddlers and older children require medical intervention when the temperature goes beyond 103F.

Pains and Aches
As soon as the fever sets in, children start complaining about pain in various parts of the body. The muscles of arms, legs, thighs commonly become painful and hurt them a lot. When the fever is high, they feel pain in the whole body. Mild to moderate headache also accompanies the fever. Headache worsen when the fever is high.

Sore Throat
Fever is mostly followed by a sore throat. The throat area often turns red that you can see if you open their mouth. The constant itchiness felt in the throat in this condition is most bothersome for children. They get a hoarse voice and feel pain in the throat when they try to speak. Swallowing of foods becomes a painful affair too.

Cough
This symptom of flu appear much later after other symptoms that are mentioned above. Scratchy throat often triggers a dry, hacking cough. The difference between cough caused by flu virus and common cold virus lies in the mucus production. Cough caused due to flu is dry do not produce any mucus. Even if any mucus is produced, it is of very small amount.

Gastrointestinal Problems
Small children often get gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain along with flu. These flu symptoms are found in kids only. Adults rarely get these kinds of symptoms. This condition causes lack of appetite and children often refuse to eat anything. There are chances of dehydration due to excessive fluid loss.

Treatment

When the intensity of symptoms of flu in children are mild to moderate, it does not require any medicinal treatment. They can be relieved with the help of some flu home remedies. Children need plenty of rest and sufficient amount of fluid to recover from the infection. Ingestion of warm liquids such as broth herbal tea and soup have a soothing effect on their sore throat. Older children can gargle with warm saltwater. You can give them honey for cough relief. However, do not give honey to small babies. Muscle ache and headache can be controlled to some extent with warm compression. Dip a washcloth in cold water, extract out the excess water and place it on the forehead and other painful sites for pain relief

When the fever is high and children develop other symptoms like breathing trouble, they should be taken to doctor. If you observe flu symptoms in children under 5, then you should not try to treat them at home and your doctor need to be consulted. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are prescribed to bring down the fever. If there are some signs of health complications, then antiviral medicines are given to check any further aggravation of the infection. Antibiotics are used when children get any bacterial infection or bronchitis. In case a child shows signs of dehydration, IV fluids are administered to hydrate their body.

Most of the symptoms tend to subside within 3-5 days provided the child is given proper care during infection. However, tiredness, fatigue, cough can bother them for some more time. Usually, they last for one or two weeks.