The Henry and Stark County Health Departments realize that with the heightened concern about this year's flu season; many parents have concerns about infection control and properly judging the severity of their children's flu symptoms.
If your child is sick? If your child is 5 years or older and otherwise healthy and gets "flu-like" symptoms, including a mild fever and/or cough, consult your doctor as needed and make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks enough fluids.
If your child is younger than 5, or of any age and has a medical condition like asthma, diabetes, neurological problems, or heart problems and develops flu-like symptoms, including a fever and/or cough, call your doctor or get medical attention. This is because younger children and children who have chronic medical conditions may be at higher risk of serious complications from influenza infection, including the new H1N1.
Talk to your doctor early if you are worried about your child's illness.
What if my child seems very sick? Even children who have always been healthy before or had the flu before can get a severe case of flu. Call or take your child to a doctor right away if your child of any age has:
* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish or gray skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
* Has other conditions (like heart or lung disease, diabetes, or asthma) and develops flu-like symptoms, including a fever and/or cough.
Can my child go to school or day care if he or she is sick? No, your child should stay home to rest and to avoid giving the flu to other children.
When can my child go back to school after having the flu? Keep your child home from school or day care for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. (Their fever should be gone without them having taken a fever-reducing medicine.) A fever is defined as 100 degrees Fahrenheit or
37.8 degrees Celsius.
In addition the nursing staff of the Health Department offers the following tips as a means to prevent illness:
* Wash hands or use alcohol hand solutions after being in public or around anyone with a cold or the flu.
* When coughing or sneezing, turn and cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue; dispose promptly. If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow.
* Don't take young children or those with immune system problems into large crowds unnecessarily when the flu is in your community.
* Avoid close contact (holding, kissing) between infants and anyone who has a cold or the flu.
* Stay home from work or school if you have the flu (fever, muscle aches, cough).
* Do not share things that go into the mouth - drinking cups, straws, etc..
* Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces (door knobs, refrigerator handle, phone, water faucets) if someone in your house has a cold or the flu.
* Do not smoke around children.
