Colds and the flu are not news, especially among children. In most cases, the symptoms improve with rest and over-the-counter medications. But, the flu symptoms may linger for a while affecting your child’s quality of life. The caring team at Argyle Pediatrics offers Argyle cold/flu remedies that will leave your child feeling healthy and strong.
Distinguishing a cold from a flu
Many are unable to distinguish a cold from the flu. The difference often lies in your child’s symptoms. A cold usually results in symptoms like a sore throat, a stuffy or runny nose, and a cough. Within the first few days, the nose may teem with watery secretions; afterward, it may thicken and become darker.
No need to worry about a bacterial infection like a sinus infection because it is part of the recovery process. It rarely affects a child’s appetite, although it may cause a slight fever that goes away with rest or over-the-counter medications. On the other hand, the flu causes sudden symptoms like a decreased appetite, high fever, achy muscles, and chills. Swine flu may cause additional signs like vomiting and diarrhea.
While cold symptoms resolve within a few days, flu symptoms can weigh your kid down for weeks. Untreated flu symptoms can also increase your child’s risk of severe health issues like pneumonia and complications that may prompt hospitalizations.
When to get alarmed about a cold or flu
Suppose you notice that your young infant or newborn has cold or flu symptoms, inform Dr. Jones before giving them any medications. She may need to conduct some tests to avoid life-threatening complications. You may also need to schedule an exam with your doctor if the cold or flu symptoms worsen or persist even after using over-the-counter medications.
Other signs that may prompt medical intervention include trouble breathing, high fever, persistent headache, and a chronic cough. Schedule an exam if symptoms like persistent fatigue or a sore throat also affect your child’s daily activities.
Myths that you should not believe about the flu
If you have encountered the flu, you should know how frustrating it can be. Some of the advice your family and friends may have given you may be wrong. One of the myths is that you can catch the flu from a flu shot. A flu vaccine consists of an inactivated virus which cannot make you sick.
So if you take your child for the flu shot, it may take a week to gain protection, and they are still vulnerable within that period. Other people believe that healthy individuals don’t need a flu shot. While it is crucial for people with chronic diseases to get a flu vaccine, healthy people can benefit from it. You may also need to stop considering the flu as a common cold. Influenza can result in severe cold symptoms.
The hospitalization rate for kids in the 2019-2020 flu season was 95.1 per 100,000 people. The experts claimed that the high number of pediatric deaths was due to the dominance of influenza A and B. It is never too late to get your child vaccinated.
Call the Argyle Pediatrics office or book an appointment online to explore more about cold or flu symptoms.
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