Claire McCarthy, M.D.: 5 Things Parents Must Do About The Flu


The influenza is here, large time. According to a many new influenza (flu) surveillance from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
* 29 states are stating high activity, 16 are stating assuage (up from 9 a week before) and 47 contend that there are influenza cases via a state.
* Hospitalizations for influenza have doubled given a week before
* 20 children have died from a influenza this season

It’s time to take this exceedingly — and do these 5 things:

1. Get influenza shots — for yourself and your children.

It’s not too late; while a influenza shot can take a integrate of weeks to unequivocally take effect, we’ve still got a integrate of months of influenza deteriorate forward of us. It’s not 100 percent effective, though hey, when it comes to a flu, any insurance is good.

For those of we who contend we don’t need it since we are healthy, we wish we know that a influenza doesn’t discriminate; it’s happy to taint anyone. Very immature kids are some-more expected to get complications of a influenza (as good as people with health problems and a unequivocally old), though anyone can get sick–and anyone can widespread it to others. This isn’t only about you.

If your children are frightened of needles, there is a nasal mist for people ages 2-49 who are healthy (and who don’t have tighten hit with people with exceedingly enervated defence systems). You, yourself, don’t even have to get a needle.

For those of we who contend that a influenza shot creates people sick… while side effects are probable after any vaccine (I felt a bit yucky a day after removing mine), a influenza shot can’t give we a influenza since a pathogen in it is dead. And a one in a nasal mist is flattering damn tighten to dead. If people get ill after a influenza shot, it’s since they held a influenza before it could strengthen them, or they held another virus.

2. Wash everyone’s hands.

All a time. we meant it. You’d be astounded how many this can cut your risk of infection. Carry palm sanitizer and use it frequently, generally when we are out and about (you only don’t know who overwhelmed that doorway hoop before you).

Plain aged soap and H2O is excellent too–but we need to use copiousness of soap and rinse for during slightest 20 seconds (which is about as prolonged as it takes we to sing “Happy Birthday” twice or a alphabet strain once).

It’s critical to remember that many palm sanitizers enclose ethanol (apparently some teenagers splash them to get drunk, go figure). If you’ve got a baby or toddler that always puts their hands in their mouth, we competence wish to error on a side of soap and water. Carrying wipes with we and regulating them frequently can help, too, nonetheless they competence not kill all viruses.

3. Stay divided from ill people.

I get that this isn’t always easy or even possible. But during influenza season, it’s totally excusable to ask about a health of everybody before usurpation an invitation (or a playdate) and to tell people they aren’t authorised to reason your baby. You are also immune for changing your chair on a train, or withdrawal a celebration early. It’s always good to be pleasant, and white lies can assistance (“Can’t means to skip any work–got a large plan due”, or “Doctor’s orders, sorry”), though infrequently staying healthy is only some-more critical than being polite.

4. Be demure of others.

This is a flip side of a final one. Please, cover your coughs and sneezes (with a hankie or a inside of your elbow, not your hands). Don’t go to work–or to a cinema or parties or any other open place we don’t positively need to go–if we are sick. Don’t send your child to propagandize sick; we know we don’t wish them to get behind, and it messes adult work to keep them home, though it’s unequivocally astray to taint other children.

5. If we consider we or your kids have a flu, call your doctor.

Note that we pronounced “call.” These days, doctors’ watchful bedrooms are one of a best places to locate or give a flu. But do check in with your alloy if we have symptoms of a influenza (which embody fever, cough, runny nose, bruise throat, flesh aches, headache and infrequently queasiness or diarrhea), to see if we should get antiviral treatment. You substantially won’t need it, though that’s for your alloy to decide–and if we do need it, a earlier we start it a better.

The CDC’s influenza website has all we competence need or wish to know about a flu. You can also find out about influenza cases in your area during a Flu Near You website–and find out where to get a influenza shot with a Health Map Vaccine Finder (please!).


Follow Claire McCarthy, M.D. on Twitter:

www.twitter.com/@drClaire

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