If a few weeks ago we offered the advice of rigor to act against a cold, now there is no choice but to give prominence to the flu. Some fear it, many suffer it, and others wonder what the difference is between a cold and a flu.
"The other consultation" is the blog of a pediatrician named Guillermo, who has already told us that 'the best place to catch the flu is precisely the waiting room for a pediatric consultation, or Emergency Department'; since quite likely, some of the patients who also wait for their turn will be carriers of the virus responsible, and you know, the sneezes of others, and the unwashed hands of our children touching all surfaces ...
I do not say that we do not have to worry (which is not the same as scare) those news that warn of a new flu outbreak (another ?, no, it is the same as weeks ago but it seems that higher levels are expected in the next days), but if the duty of health personnel is to assist us, guide us and propose healing measures, ours is to keep calm. How to keep calm if they have explained that this year the so-called Influenza A predominates?
Amalia Arce is also a pediatrician, and from her blog 'Diary of a pediatrician mother', warns that for these health professionals, the respiratory syncytial virus epidemic is much worse. And also remember that the flu is self-limited, and that to pass it can be enough with symptomatic treatment and care.
What gives us more "fear" to professionals are not complicated patients or mortality figures (very low percentages compared to other pathologies) but the saturation of the different services these days, the great care pressure that comes upon us, the difficulties many times to make understand that the flu is not serious, that it cures on its own, that you have to be patient if the fever lasts a few days ... etcAdvertising
I have read in Guillermo's blog that 'the vaccine that was administered for this season in the indicated patients includes types A and B but we must remember that the flu vaccine does not prevent complications: does not reduce the associated pneumonia, or income, or deaths (the figures probably do not exceed those of other years for the same reason) '. And in children under 2 years its effect is debatable.
Do you want to know what are the symptoms of the dreaded flu?
It's like having a cold with obvious symptoms, and also the sum of muscle aches, tiredness and fever. It is very contagious, so at the time it occurs in children, they should stay at home, because whatever we say, they do not have such habits of covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze, or wash their hands with frequency.
It is true that heals himself (yes: help the children feel better, they will thank you), but a small number of patients (minors and adults) are candidates for complications. In particular, the pediatrician should be consulted in the case of heart, lung or kidney diseases; also if the child is diabetic, has cancer or some type of immunodeficiency.
It does not mean that you can not go to see if your child without any of these diseases catches the flu, but do it from the calm, having assessed the general picture that presents
The picture you find below comes from Kids Health, and helps to differentiate the flu from a cold easily:
If most of your answers fall into the first category, it is 'likely' that your child has the flu. If most of your answers fall into the second category, it is 'likely' that you have a cold
Balance between calm and seek medical advice if necessary
Sometimes we get scared when we know that the Flu virus lurks around, and then it turns out that in our children it behaves like a mild illness.
Others, we must call the pediatrician and ask for his advice: when the fever is high or does not go away, also if the child looks bad or is irritable or sleepy, if a skin rash appears. Of course if it is hard for you to breathe, we go 'head first' to the doctor!
Do you think your child has the flu?
Then we will review these recommendations of En Familia: ensure that you drink fluids frequently, avoid tobacco smoke, use disposable tissues to avoid contagion. As for medications, no antibiotics or aspirin or flu medications that contain it; Use anti-thermal agents (be careful with combining them) not to lower the fever, but to make the child feel better.
Again remember that everyone's hands should be washed quite frequently when there is a family member with the flu, and that in general when sick with the flu, contact with other people should be avoided and stay home. The flu is a seasonal epidemic, yes, but most of those affected recover within a week or two even if they do not receive medical treatment.
