Flu and cold usually accompany each other when
attacking a child’s immune system. It is a wide spread
viral infection and the harsh truth is that there is no
permanent treatment designed for it because of the
involvement of many types of viruses which cannot be
killed, but yes their growth rate can be suppressed.
Symptomatic treatments can trigger the rate of
improvement in the child’s health, but it might not work
for all kids.
The child can get affected by the flu and cold virus
when he is exposed to an infected person. The symptoms
are mild headache, feeling of tiredness, stuffy or runny
nose, watery eyes, light fever, sneezing, cough, muscle
aches, and sore throat. It takes two to five days for
the symptoms to appear and three to five days for the
complete development of the virus. It takes nearly two
weeks to completely get rid of the flu. The virus
attacks the upper respiratory system. These are the
symptoms of cold. The symptoms of flu are more terrible
than cold and grow very rapidly. They are high fever,
runny nose, sore throat, nasal congestion, chills,
fatigue and nausea, vomiting, eye pain and extreme
headache. Symptoms are extremely important when trying
to differentiate between flu and a cold. As stated
before, the symptoms of flu are more severe when
compared to the symptoms of cold. Also, it is easier to
get over cold than flu. The biggest clue will be
recalling any incident of exposure to patients having
either flu or cold. Even after thorough analysis, if it
is difficult to reach any clear conclusion, a doctor
should be consulted. A swab is taken from the nasal
track or throat and the results are determined an hour
after the test is taken.
No antibiotics work on these viruses. Intake of
antibiotics cannot better the condition in any way
whatsoever. Also, there are chances of secondary
bacterial infections like sinus or ear infection. The
child should be administered with fluids and a cool mist
humidifier to suppress the symptoms and to help him feel
better. Medications are available over the counter which
can be bought depending on the symptoms of the infected.
Antiviral medicines are available for the treatment of
flu, which hasten the recovery process. But the
medicines are effective only when given within forty
eight hours after the onset of flu symptoms. Runny nose,
especially of infants and kids who cannot blow their
nose, can be taken care of with the help of a bulb
syringe or nasal drop. If flu isn’t treated at the right
time, it can worsen the health of the infected and can
also lead to pneumonia.
Flu is a very commonly spreading infection among school
going kids. According to a research, nearly twenty
percent of Americans are infected with flu every year
and nearly twenty thousand people die because of it. The
only way to prevent the child from contracting these
virus is by getting him/her a flu shot before the flu
season or as recommended by the physician. The vaccine
is either administered through a shot or nasal spray.
Regular dosage will strengthen the immune system by
constructing antibodies. The nasal spray vaccine
contains live weakened viruses and shots contain
completely dead viruses. By any chance, if the child
does get exposed to the virus, he/she should be given
medicine meant for flu patients, immediately. More than
hundred viruses are known which cause cold. A lesser
number of viruses are known to causes flu. That is the
reason why there is a shot for flu and not cold.
But flu shot cannot be taken by anyone or everyone.
People who complain of allergic reactions from previous
flu shots, people who have the Guillain-Barre syndrome
and people allergic to eggs are not eligible for flu
shots. It is highly recommended to take advice from a
physician before getting vaccinated. Children and
elderly should be given nasal spray vaccination, but
instead they should opt for flu shots. Out of total
population, there are certain people who have a greater
probability of getting flu. Children up to five years of
age, elders older than sixty five years, nursing home
residents, pregnant women, patients with long term
problems regarding health, and health care workers who
come directly in contact with flu patients.
