December 6th, 2017
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ACPeds  Parent Talk

Keeping parents up to date on the latest news in child and teen health

National Influenza Vaccination Week: Dec 3rd - Dec 9th


Flu causes millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths each year in the United States. Last season, over 100 pediatric deaths from influenza were reported to CDC.

For certain populations, the Flu can cause serious complications. Children, especially those younger than 5 years, and pregnant women are at high risk for moderate complications such as sinus and ear infections, and severe complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis.

Symptoms of the Flu can include a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache, fatigue, or sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.



How can parents prevent kids from getting the flu?

The flu vaccine offers the best defense against getting the flu and spreading it to others. Getting vaccinated can reduce flu illnesses, doctor's visits, missed work and school days, and prevent flu-related hospitalizations and deaths in children.

It's too late! My child already has the flu. How can I care for my child and prevent the flu from spreading?

Covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze and frequent hand washing are everyday actions that can help keep germs from spreading.

If your child develops a fever, respiratory symptoms, or is less responsive than normal, contact your child's pediatrician as soon as possible to prevent your child from experiencing serious flu-related complications.



If you have the flu...

Try to minimize contact with any children in your care as much as possible by covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, and making sure to put your used tissue in a waste basket or flush it down the toilet.

Of course, make sure to wash your hands with soap and water frequently and as soon as possible if you have sneezed or coughed on your hands.

After your flu symptoms have cleared up, make sure to continue taking these precautions for at least another 24 hours. Just because you may not be experiencing symptoms does not mean the virus has been completely eradicated from your body.

According to the  CDC
, "Most healthy adults may be able to infect other people beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than 7 days."


Even if you or your child haven't yet been vaccinated and have already gotten sick with flu, you both can still benefit from vaccination since the flu vaccine can protect against three or four different flu viruses depending on which vaccine you get.

According to ACPeds Board member Dr. Scott Field, "the flu vaccine can prevent infections and save the lives of our children. So if your children have not been immunized against flu, please consider it as soon as possible."

For more information

Children's Need for Sleep                                     #WeeklyBlogPost
 Not having a regular bedtime and not getting enough sleep leads to problems with cognitive function, behavior, hyperactivity, being overweight or obese, and increases the likelihood of needing special education. 



For information on how parents can promote healthy sleeping habits in kids, 

and  please, leave a comment

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