Your Day-by-day Flu Guide

Last updated on March 2nd, 2018 at 04:43 pm

For many families, battling the flu is a seasonal rite of passage: Up to one in five children will suffer through a bout this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “But it can be a scary experience for any mom,” says Dr. Kelly Orringer, a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan. “Your child can get very sick, very fast.”

To help ease your worries, we asked the experts to spell out what day-by-day flu symptoms to expect, how you should treat them, and when to call your pediatrician. By arming yourself with the flu facts, you can stop fretting – and start taking charge!

Day 1: Initial Flu Symptoms Appear

The first signs of flu are a runny nose, chills and body aches,” says Dr. Stanley Grogg, a professor of pediatrics at Oklahoma State University and a spokesman for the American Osteopathic Association. “A child will feel pretty miserable within a 24-hour span.” To prepare for the next few days, stock up on blankets and soft tissues that won’t irritate the area around your child’s nose and increase discomfort.

Be sure to call your pediatrician too: Your little one is already contagious, says Grogg, so if you have a family member who is at risk for complications of the flu – for example, an infant under the age of 6 months, or a senior citizen older than 65 – an antiviral medication may be necessary. The course of two pills, which prevent the spread of flu, is most effective within 48 hours of the onset of your child’s symptoms.

In addition, Grogg says you should take your child to the doctor if, at any point during the duration of the flu, your child runs a fever higher than 105 F, experiences painful, labored breathing, or stops drinking. Moms have good instincts about their kids, so if something feels really wrong, trust your gut and call your pediatrician.

Day 2: Your Child Runs a Fever

On the second day, a child usually starts running a high fever,” says Grogg. “She’ll also experience fatigue and a wet cough.” He advises bringing down her fever and easing aches with acetaminophen or ibuprofen — but avoid aspirin. “Giving a feverish child aspirin has been linked to a rare, but dangerous, condition called Reye’s syndrome,” he says.

To prevent dehydration, Grogg recommends making sure that your child is drinking enough. Place a water bottle next to her bed and give her ice pops made with 100-percent fruit juice. And because most children also lose their appetite, he also suggests feeding her calorie-dense treats, like chocolate milk and smoothies.

Days 3 to 5: Symptoms Worsen

Is your child super-sick? That’s normal. “This is when flu symptoms are at their worst,” explains Orringer. Your kid may also start experiencing gastrointestinal problems, like vomiting and diarrhea; continue giving your child plenty of fluids and ibuprofen or acetaminophen, says Orringer. “For children older than 6, over-the-counter oral medications can provide relief.” Other methods she recommends to ease the suffering:

• Brewing tea with honey (can help soothe a sore throat and cough)
• Using a saline spray and running a humidifier (can lessen congestion
• Applying a topical cough-relief rub (can help your child sleep better)

Days 6 to 10: Recuperation Begins

At last – your child should start feeling better. But if he’s not showing improvement, call your pediatrician, says Grogg.

Your kid is also less contagious during this time, says Grogg, so it’s safe to let him play with his siblings and friends again. Once your child’s temperature is below 100 F for 24 hours (without the aid of acetaminophen or ibuprofen) and he no longer has an uncontrollable cough, Grogg recommends sending him back to school.

Comfort Your Child: Sick Day TLC

Last updated on August 29th, 2015 at 06:39 pm

Help make your little one’s sick day a little better with some creative touches you can both feel good about.

Feed a Cold

Sick kids don’t always want to eat, but it’s important to make sure they get enough nutrients. Make a game of it by playing restaurant: Give your child a menu of healthy choices, write his “order” down on a notepad, then deliver the meal on a tray. Keep it fun with foods like “orange smiles” (oranges sliced into smiles); toast cut into fun shapes with cookie cutters; or chicken soup served in a thermos. To soothe a sore throat, Amy Clark, founder of MomAdvice.com, suggests fruit-juice popsicles or a fruit smoothie (a mix of ice, yogurt and fruit in a blender). For a fun, fizzy drink, mix a colorful electrolyte juice with ginger ale and serve in a fancy glass – don’t forget the silly straw!

Make a Sick Day Special

Keep a few special items on hand that you only pull out for sick days. Clark suggests hitting a thrift store to buy a small, inexpensive suitcase. Decorate it with brightly colored buttons and bows, and fill it with some special items: pajamas with your kid’s favorite cartoon character on them, a mug with a family photo on it, and a few toys, games, coloring books, puzzles and art supplies reserved just for sick days.

Try a Spoonful of Sugar

Get little ones to take their medicine by mixing liquids or crushed pills with something sweet, like a smoothie, pudding, applesauce or fruit-flavored yogurt. (Just be sure to ask your pediatrician or pharmacist if it’s OK first, and make sure your child takes the entire dose.) You can also make liquid meds fun by using a medicine dropper instead of a spoon — let your child squirt it into his own mouth one drop at a time.

Soothe Aches and Pains

For a fever, congestion, or aches and pains associated with the flu, a little TLC can go a long way. Try massaging your little one’s aching neck and shoulders. Clark also suggests filling a tube sock with rice and freezing it to use as a cold pack. Help to clear a stuffy head by enclosing yourselves in the bathroom with a steamy shower: Clark recommends letting your child wear his bathing suit for a “day on a tropical island,” and for a special touch, adding bubbles and tub toys.

Create a Comfort Zone

Kids need to get a lot of quiet rest when they’re sick. Create a space where they’ll actually want to relax by pitching a tent in the living room and filling it with a sleeping bag, pillows and a flashlight, as well as some favorite books, stuffed animals and quiet activities like puzzles and board games.

Play Doctor

Keep a toy doctor’s kit on hand, and with your kid, practice looking into each other’s ears, giving pretend shots and listening to each other’s coughs. Be the nurse and come in to check on your “patient” often. Fluff the pillows, take his temperature and listen to his heartbeat.

Go Old-school

Skip the TV, video games and movies, and instead take advantage of some quality quiet time with your child. Play a few rounds of tic-tac-toe, I Spy, Go Fish or charades. Make up stories, cut out paper dolls, sort through old photographs, or pull out some old board games, puzzles and coloring books.

Reach Out

When you’re away from your sick kid, Clark suggests keeping in touch by using a baby monitor – many of the newer models offer two-way communications. You can also give your child a bell, a walkie-talkie or a cell phone to get your attention when you’re needed.

Turn the Lights Out

Help your kid get into “rest mode” by pulling down the shades, turning off the lights and playing some quiet activities together in bed. Carole Kranowitz and Joye Newman, authors of Growing an In-Sync Child: Simple, Fun Activities to Help Every Child Develop, Learn and Grow suggest a game of ceiling flashlight tag or shadow puppets on the wall. Stick some glow-in-the-dark stars on your child’s ceiling and make wishes. Tell ghost stories (not too scary – you want your kid to fall asleep!). Or just lie down, cuddle up and take a nap together.

Great News Needle-phobic Parents: New Flu Shot Uses Tiny Needle

Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 10:36 am

If you are among the many moms and dads who are scared of needles, this year’s flu shot might be a lot less scary. Ninety percent less scary, that is!

The new intradermal flu vaccine uses a 90% smaller needle to inject the vaccine into the skin, instead of muscle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the intradermal vaccine not only requires a smaller needle but it has 40% less antigen that the regular flu shot while still being as effective as the traditional vaccine. Antigen is the part of the vaccine that helps your body build protection against flu viruses and since each intradermal vaccine requires less than the traditional shot, more doses can be made from the same amount of antigen.

The intradermal vaccine is designed to protect against the three strains of flu deemed most likely to be the most prevalent this flu season as determined by flu research. It is recommended for adults ages 18 through 64. Unfortunately, it has not yet been approved for children younger than 18, but the traditional flu vaccine shot and nasal spray flu vaccines are still available for those who fall outside the age range for the intradermal shot. Consult the CDC Seasonal Influenza guidelines to help you decide which form of the vaccine is appropriate for you and your family members, and if you have any concerns, consult your healthcare provider.

Flu season typically peaks in the winter months, but the CDC recommends getting vaccinated as soon as the influenza vaccine is available, since it can take two weeks for your body to develop the necessary antibodies to protect you. With flu shots widely available at doctor’s offices, pharmacies and flu shot clinics, it is more convenient and easier than ever to get vaccinated and protect yourself and your family from the flu this season.

For more information about the intradermal and traditional flu vaccines, please visit the CDC for up to date seasonal flu information.

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Editor’s Note: For those of you with little ones whose needle-phobia rivals your own, consider reading the story of Buzzy by Dr Amy Baxter. Not only did she create an innovative way to help reduce the pain of getting a shot but she also has some terrific hints to help overcome your child’s stress before and during their visit to the doctor).

Now it’s a little easier for all of you to be brave – so go ahead and get your flu shots…and have a safe and healthy winter. 🙂

Keeping Your Child Healthy on Airplanes

Last updated on August 29th, 2015 at 09:15 pm

Many cold and flu viruses are transmitted when you touch surfaces. And when you’re on airplanes, you’re touching armrests and tray tables that may not be very clean. Since so many people are touching the same surfaces, it’s all too easy to pick up germs on your hands.

So always have your child wash hands thoroughly before and after using the bathroom on a plane. And when you can’t get access to a sink and soap, use a hand sanitizer that has at least 60 percent alcohol. If you’re worried about the drying effects of alcohol, use a hand sanitizer that has added moisturizers, like aloe.

And since the air on planes is so dry and uncomfortable, you might also want to bring along some saline nasal spray, which you can use to help keep both yours and your child’s nasal passages well moisturized.

It’s also important to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water — that goes for you and your child.

Finally, try to avoid sick people when possible. If you’re sitting next to someone who’s coughing and sniffling and the flight is not full, speak up and politely ask a flight attendant if you can move to different seats.

Homemade Cold Remedies to Soothe Your Family

Last updated on August 29th, 2015 at 09:09 pm

Nothing cures the common cold, so the best you can do is relieve the cough, sore throat and stuffy nose that come with it. But you don’t need to buy over-the-counter products — and shouldn’t in the case of children, who may have serious, even life-threatening reactions. The jury is still out on zinc and Vitamin C, but many of the homemade cold remedies your grandmother used to push really do help relieve cold symptoms. Here are a few to try the next time you get stuffed up:

Hot Drinks

A nice cup of tea is more than just soothing when you’ve got a nasty cold. It can provide immediate and lasting relief from all of the major cold symptoms — runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chills and fatigue — according to a 2008 study from Cardiff University’s Common Cold Centre.

Liquids

Drinking fluids won’t flush the cold virus out of your system, but it will help loosen congestion and prevent dehydration, according to the Mayo Clinic. Water, juice, clear broth, and warm lemon water with honey are good options.

Honey

Research has shown that honey has properties that fight bacteria, but it works wonders on viral cough symptoms, too. A 2007 study by Pennsylvania State University’s department of pediatrics found that children with coughs due to colds experienced less coughing and better sleep when they ate small amounts of honey before bedtime. (Note: Honey is not safe for children under 2.)

Salt Water

Gargling three times a day with warm salt water can temporarily reduce sore-throat pain, according to a study in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine. (It also cuts your chance of getting a bacterial infection by 40%.) Dissolve 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water.

Spicy Food and Antacids

Dishes that contain hot peppers or horseradish may help clear sinuses, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. And if they should happen to give you indigestion, a teaspoon of liquid antacid can do double-duty as another of our homemade cold remedies. In addition to soothing your heartburn, it can help soothe sore throats due to post-nasal drip by coating the throat and neutralizing the acids in mucous.

Chicken Soup

Yup, it works … and science has discovered why. Chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties that stop the movement of white blood cells called neutrophils. Neutrophilic activity causes the release of mucous, according to research by University of Nebraska Medical Center. So it’s no wives’ tale that Grandma’s favorite recipe really does soothe sore throats and other cold-related ailments — at least as well as anything from the store would.

Your Cold-Fighting Grocery List

Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 11:59 am

Up and down temperatures and sniffling neighbors can only mean one thing: cold and flu season is still in full swing. You already know to wash your hands religiously and get enough sleep, but did you know that what you eat can protect you too?

Incorporate these seven cold-fighting foods into your next grocery list to bolster your family’s immune systems — so you can stay healthy all year long.

Pork Tenderloin

Cooking the same chicken cutlets night after night? Consider adding the other white meat to your dinner rotation. Not only is pork tenderloin as low in fat as chicken breast, but it’s also high in the mineral zinc, which, according to the National Institutes of Health, aids your body’s cold-fighting ability. “The body uses zinc to activate infection-fighting cells,” explains Marisa Moore, a registered dietitian and national spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. As a result, she says, kids and adults who don’t get enough of the nutrient are more susceptible to cold and flu viruses.

Strawberries

If you’re shopping for foods rich in vitamin C, you probably bag a few oranges. But strawberries actually contain even more of this powerful antioxidant than citrus fruits: Just eight berries provide as much of the nutrient as the USDA recommends per day. “Vitamin C has been shown to strengthen your body’s resistance to illness,” says Moore. Other top C sources: guava and tomatoes.

Cereal

The next time you pick up your family’s favorite puffs or flakes, make sure they’re fortified with vitamin D. According to a recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, children who got 1,200 IU of vitamin D daily were 40 percent less likely to catch the flu than those who didn’t. Researchers said the nutrient may help white blood cells destroy viruses and bacteria. For an even bigger D boost, pair that cereal with vitamin-D-enriched low-fat milk.

Brazil Nuts

This hearty nut is full of selenium, a mineral shown by researchers at The University of Edinburgh to be crucial to optimal immune response. “Selenium acts as an antioxidant in the body, which protects against the free-radical damage that wears down your system,” says Moore. Got a nut allergy in your family? Stock up on other sources, such as salmon, turkey and chunk light tuna.

Garlic

According to research published in the journal Advances in Therapy, this white bulb keeps more than vampires away — it helps keep colds at bay! “The active compound in garlic, allicin, has been shown to have virus-fighting properties,” says Moore. To make the pungent veggie more family-friendly, mince and add to dishes like soup, stir-fries and pasta sauce for a quick hit.

Yogurt

This creamy snack is packed with probiotics, the body-friendly bacteria. Not only do probiotics assist in digestion, but research shows that they also have a serious immune-boosting effect: One study from the University of California, Davis, found that people who ate 1 cup of yogurt daily had higher levels of gamma interferon — a substance that helps immune cells fight off viruses — after a month. Look for brands that contain “live, active cultures.”

Broccoli

Moms love broccoli because it’s packed with nutrients and vitamins — including vitamin C and zinc. Now they can add “fend off runny noses” to the veggie’s list of healthy benefits. Broccoli and other cruciferous veggies — such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale and cauliflower — contain an antioxidant called glutathione, which researchers at the department of immunology and cell biology at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, proved to bolster immunity. Are your kids not fans? Try steaming the veggie and chopping it finely, then mixing it into casseroles, rice pilafs and mac ’n’ cheese dishes.

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