| Typically, parents are told to just treat the symptoms | | | | most easily) and even among adults who often get |
| of a cold or the flu and make their child comfortable, | | | | the flu from their kids. |
| because these common infections are caused by | | | | Post-infectious cough, usually without phlegm, may last |
| viruses and there are no treatments. While | | | | for weeks to months after the flu symptoms go away |
| symptomatic treatments are important to help your | | | | and may keep a person up at night. This cough has |
| child feel better, this is not totally true anymore. There | | | | been associated with asthma-like symptoms, and can |
| are many medications available now to help treat the | | | | be treated with asthma medications. Consult your |
| flu. | | | | doctor if you have this kind of cough. |
| The common cold, also known as a viral upper | | | | During Cold and Flu in Children, they need to be dealt |
| respiratory tract infection, is a contagious illness that | | | | with special care. Complications of flu can include |
| can be caused by a number of different types of | | | | bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, |
| viruses. Because of the great number of viruses that | | | | dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical |
| can cause a cold and because new cold viruses | | | | conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or |
| develop, the body never builds up resistance against all | | | | diabetes. Facts about Flu states that children are at |
| of them. For this reason, colds are a frequent and | | | | high risk of complications and serious illness from the |
| recurring problem. In fact, on average, preschool | | | | cold and flu. If there is cold and Flu in Children, they |
| children have nine colds a year, those in kindergarten, | | | | should be take complete rest. Call your pediatrician if |
| 12 colds a year; and adolescents and adults, seven | | | | the fever last more than three to four days, or if your |
| colds per year. | | | | child complains of trouble breathing, ear pain, |
| Flu symptoms are highly contagious, particularly when | | | | congestion in the face or head, or a persistent cough. |
| people share close quarters as children do in school | | | | Diagnosis of a cold or the flu may include a thorough |
| classrooms. Flu is spread among children when a child | | | | medical history as well as a physical examination. It is |
| either inhales infected droplets in the air (coughed up or | | | | not usually necessary to run additional tests to |
| sneezed by an infected person) or when the child | | | | diagnose a cold or the flu, but these tests may help |
| comes in direct contact with an infected person's | | | | identify other conditions that may be causing the |
| secretions. This can happen, for example, when they | | | | symptoms. |
| share pencils at school or play computer games and | | | | The best way to prevent Cold and Flu in Children is by |
| share the remotes or share utensils such as spoons | | | | getting an annual flu shot. The "flu shot" does not |
| and forks. | | | | contain live virus. It is an inactivated vaccine that is |
| Children ages 6 months to 5 years are considered in | | | | given by injection. It is approved for use in anyone |
| the high risk group because they are more likely than | | | | older than 6 months, including healthy people and |
| older children to be hospitalized or develop serious | | | | people with chronic medical conditions. All children aged |
| complications from the flu. However, the panel believes | | | | 6 to 23 months should get a flu shot because they are |
| covering all children up to age 18 will cut down | | | | at high risk of complications. |
| dramatically on transmission among kids (who spread it | | | | |