Every winter, there are a lot more colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses that can spread quickly, especially among small children and older people.
Dr. Laura Santos, who is the assistant division director of pediatric critical care at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, spoke out to give parents advice on how to keep their kids healthy this flu season.
First, it’s important to make sure you and your kids get their flu shots on time. In fact, flu can show up as late as May. February is the busiest month for flu. You should also think about getting a flu shot to protect the people around you who might not be able to get one yet because of their age.
Among other respiratory illnesses, COVID, the flu, and RSV have a lot in common. But there are a few things you should keep in mind as you look at your symptoms to figure out which illness you may have.
Like, flu symptoms might be worse and come on more quickly, for example. Muscle and body aches are some of the other signs that you might not see elsewhere. They can give you a flu test and let you know for sure what’s wrong by talking to your doctor or a nurse.
The signs of RSV aren’t too bad, but they can be different for people of different ages. That is, these symptoms can be a lot worse for kids younger than 2 years old and even lead to more major problems and effects for them.
COVID-19 can have the same side effects and symptoms as the other drugs. You can use at-home tools to check for COVID-19. These tests are safe for kids too. You should keep your child home from school if they get sick so they can get better.
You don’t have to take your kids to the doctor while you keep them home. There are many good stuff you can use instead. Make sure your child drinks plenty of water, eats as much as they can, and takes their cold medicine. If they can’t sleep because they cough or sniffle in the middle of the night, you can put an air humidifier in their room.
You should see a doctor if the symptoms get worse or if you notice that your child isn’t going to the bathroom, urinating, or being able to keep anything down. To help them feel better, you should tell your child to rest as much as possible.
