The flu, also known as influenza, is a highly contagious viral disease of the airways. Although the flu affects both sexes and all age groups, children tend to get it more often than adults. This is a seasonal disease, occurring between November and April, occurring mostly between late December and early March.

What are the symptoms of flu?
The flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu symptoms tend to develop quickly (usually between 1 and 4 days after the person is exposed to the flu virus) and are generally stronger than the typical sneezing and stuffy nose catarrh own.

Symptoms of flu may include:
* fever
* chills
* headache
* muscle aches
* dizziness
* loss of appetite
* fatigue
* cough
* sore throat
* runny nose
* nausea or vomiting
* weakness
* ear infection
* diarrhea

When a baby gets the flu, may give the impression that suddenly seems to be wrong or “do not look well.”

How long does the flu?
After 5 days, fever and other symptoms usually disappear, but may persist cough and weakness. All symptoms usually disappear within a week or two. Anyway, it’s important you take the flu seriously because it can develop into pneumonia and other complications that may endanger life, especially when it affects infants, elderly and people with chronic health problems.

Is it contagious?
The flu is contagious, it can spread through virus-infected droplets that are expelled by coughing or sneezing. People with flu are contagious while symptoms (most of the time the symptoms last about one week for adults, but children can last up to two weeks).

The flu usually occurs in small outbreaks, but epidemics occur periodically. Influenza epidemics (when the disease spreads very quickly and affects many people in the same area at the same time) usually occur during the 2 or 3 weeks following the onset of the first cases, but then begins to decrease cases .

What about the flu vaccine?
Usually administered between September and mid-November (but may be given later in the year), the flu vaccine reduces the odds that the average person from getting the flu during this season as much as 80%. But because the flu vaccine protects against infection caused only a small number of viruses that can cause flu-like symptoms that a person put the vaccine is no guarantee he will not get sick during the influenza season. But if a person has the flu vaccine, it is likely to present fewer symptoms and these become more mild.

Given as an injection in the arm, the flu shot contains killed flu viruses that do not cause the flu to her son, but make your body fight infection by the influenza virus. If a person puts a vaccine containing certain strains of influenza, will be protected against these strains in particular in the case of coming into contact with them.

Even if you vaccinate your child last year, it will not protect against the flu virus this year, since protection “outdated” because the influenza viruses are constantly changing. This is why the vaccine is having to update each year to include the latest strains of the virus.

For children under 9 who get the shot first, it should be administered in two injections separated by a period of a month. After administration of the vaccine, the body may take 1 to 2 weeks to develop protection against influenza.

If the vaccine is administered before the bird is in full swing, the body will have more opportunities to develop immunity or protection against the virus. Although the vaccine can be administered during the period of the year with more flu, it is best to put your child’s sooner than later, if the doctor deems necessary.

However, not everybody needs a flu shot. At times when there is a shortage of vaccine, some people need more than others. You, your child’s pediatrician and family doctor should determine which members of his family should be vaccinated each year.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the vaccine for … (Continued here)

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend administering the flu vaccine to the following groups of people who have increased risk for influenza-related complications:

* Infants and children 6 to 23 months
* all persons who are 65 years or more
* women who will be pregnant during flu season
* all persons who work with infants under 6 months
* persons who are to reside for extended periods in clinical settings such as nursing homes.
* any child or adult who has a chronic illness such as asthma
* staff medical services are in direct contact with patients
* children – from 6 months to 18 years – the continued long-term treatment with aspirin.

People should not make the flu vaccine include:
* Babies under 6 months
* any person who is very allergic to egg and / or its derivatives – because the ingredients of the flu vaccine, in fact, are grown inside eggs. If your child is allergic to eggs or their derivatives, tell the doctor before putting the flu vaccine.
* Anyone who has ever had a severe reaction to influenza vaccine.
* all people suffering from Guillain Barre syndrome, a rare medical disorder that affects the immune and nervous systems.
* any person who is ill and has a fever.

Apart from the injection, there is another option for getting influenza vaccine: through a nasal spray. This vaccine is available in some countries since 2004 and currently its use is approved for people aged 5 to 49 years. But the nasal spray is not for everyone and is contraindicated for children and high-risk adults. Also, since this spray contains live flu virus can cause mild flu-like symptoms, including runny nose, headache, vomiting, muscle aches and fever. Ask your child’s doctor if he can-or should-use this type of flu vaccine.

Are there other ways to avoid spreading the flu?
Although there is no guaranteed way-including the vaccination to prevent a person from getting the flu, the easiest way to reduce the chances of transmitting the disease once contracted is to avoid the crowds. Since you can not cage a child, here are some guidelines that can keep you and your family to avoid the spread of infections like the flu:

* Wash hands thoroughly and frequently.
* Do not ever get used tissues.
* Do not share glasses, cups or silverware until you feel better.
* Stay home from work or school when you have the flu.
* Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

How is influenza?
In most cases, the flu does not require specific medical treatment. But some children with chronic diseases may worsen if the flu, and may require hospitalization. The flu can also be dangerous in newborns. A seriously ill child or other special circumstances, the doctor may prescribe antiviral medication to alleviate the symptoms of flu, to be administered later than 48 hours after infection.

Here are some tips for a child who was healthy to regain health after contracting the flu:
* Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
* Sleeping too much and take it easy.
* Taking acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen to reduce fever and relieve flu symptoms. Anyway, do not give your child aspirin unless instructed otherwise by your doctor.
* Wear layers of clothing, as the flu makes you move quickly from cold to hot and vice versa. Wearing several layers-like a shirt, a sweater and a robe-makes the process of uncovering shelter or as needed.

When to Call the Doctor?
You should call your pediatrician about your child exhibits symptoms of flu and:
* think your child should get a flu shot
* flu symptoms worsen your child
* your child has high fever for several days
* your child seems to improve initially, but then feels worse than before.

However, in most cases, the flu usually subsides within one to two weeks with rest, care and much love.

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