It's the Flu

Wouldn't you know it, Kiddo started pre-school this week and brings home the flu. At least, I think it's the flu. We all had a touch of it earlier this year, I was hoping we were done with it.

I'm the kind that hates to panic and call the doctor for every little thing, so I looked up the Flu on Babycenter.com, which has a medical advisory board to look over their medical articles. Basically the flu is a virus that induces fever, body aches, and lack of appetite, often combined with a dry cough and upper respiratory distress. (Interestingly enough, the "stomach flu" isn't technically the flu.) The rule of thumb is that if the fever came first, it's probably the flu; if the cough, runny nose, and sniffles came first, it's probably a cold.

Treating the flu hasn't changed in forever:

The best treatment for the flu is bed rest, plenty of fluids, and as much nutritious food as your child can handle. Try offering frozen fruit bars to encourage him to get extra liquids — along with soup or broth, which may ease his congestion as well.

For muscle aches and fever, give your child a pain reliever such as children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen. (Never give a child aspirin unless your doctor has recommended it, especially if he has a viral infection. It can trigger Reye's syndrome, a rare but life-threatening condition.)

Okay, simple enough, and we all just suffer through it together. I have Tylenol and Pedialyte and lots of clear juice and water. I was more interested in when to panic. They have different lists for babies and pre-schoolers (age 2-4), so here you go:

Call your doctor for your preschooler:

• If your child has a fever over 103 degrees F (39.4 degrees C) or any fever that lasts longer than three days
  
• If your child develops a cough that persists for more than a week
• At the first sign of the flu if your child is HIV-positive or has a chronic illness (such as cancer, sickle-cell anemia, diabetes, or heart, lung, or kidney disease)
  
• At the first sign of the flu if your child has rheumatoid arthritis or Kawasaki disease, both of which are treated with long-term aspirin therapy. (In such cases, the benefits of aspirin outweigh the tiny risk of Reye's syndrome.)
• If your child has an earache
• If your child is wheezing or seems to be working harder than usual to breathe
• If he becomes sick again soon after bouncing back from the flu, or if he has a high fever for more than three or four days. (He may have a secondary infection that needs to be treated.)
• If your child shows any signs of dehydration

Call your doctor for your baby:

• If your baby is 2 months or younger and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) or higher. A baby this young needs to be checked for serious infection or disease. For a baby older than 2 months, ask your doctor what her guidelines are for phoning. She may suggest you call if your baby is between 3 and 6 months old and his temperature reaches 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) or higher, or if your baby is over 6 months and his fever reaches 103 degrees F (39.4 degrees C) or higher.
  
• If your baby develops a cough that persists for more than a week
  
• At the first sign of the flu if your child is HIV-positive or has a chronic illness (such as cancer, sickle-cell anemia, diabetes, or heart, lung, or kidney disease)
  
• At the first sign of the flu if your baby has rheumatoid arthritis or Kawasaki disease, both of which are treated with long-term aspirin therapy. (In such cases, the benefits of aspirin outweigh the tiny risk of Reye's syndrome.)
  
• If your baby seems to have an earache (he may pull on his ear and fuss)
  
• If your child is wheezing or seems to be working harder than usual to breathe
  
• If he becomes sick again soon after bouncing back from the flu, or if he has a high fever for more than three or four days. (He may have a secondary infection that needs to be treated.)
  
• If your baby shows any signs of dehydration.
  

Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional of any kind, this is just stuff I've learned. Don't take my word for it, when in doubt call your doctor.