Limiting Flu is in Your Hands: ACH Offers Advice for Parents as School Starts Back
Publication Date: Friday, August 21, 2009
LITTLE ROCK, AR. (Aug. 21, 2009) – As children head back to school, they need more than just basic supplies like paper and crayons. They also need good pointers from Mom and Dad on how to stay healthy and avoid the flu this year. Arkansas Children’s Hospital has plenty of resources to guide families as seasonal flu and H1N1 spread, providing much needed peace of mind.
Already, type A influenza is widespread in central Arkansas, with more diagnoses made this summer at Arkansas Children’s Hospital than in any previous summer on record. The flu could sideline lots of students and parents this year, but there’s no need to panic. Proper education will help parents keep their families safe and healthy, and guide them as they care for their children if they do get sick.
The best way to prevent flu from spreading is to wash your hands every chance you get and talk with your children about doing the same. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides other tips at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
Many families may be scratching their heads about what to watch for this flu season. They have lots of questions, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital wants to help them find answers.
Here are a few common questions with advice from ACH physicians and the CDC:
Q: How will I know if my child has H1N1? A: Look for symptoms similar to a typical seasonal flu: fever above 100 degrees F, a persistent cough, a sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body and headaches, chills and general fatigue. Some people also have experienced diarrhea and vomiting. Look for a combination of symptoms – like a fever and a couple of the other signs – to determine whether your child may have the flu.
Q: Are kids considered high-risk? A: Yes, kids of certain ages are high-risk. The CDC has said that children younger than 5 years old are considered high-risk for H1N1. Children under 2 are especially high-risk. That doesn’t mean they’re more likely to catch the disease. It means they’re more likely to have complications if they do come down with the virus. Other high-risk groups include pregnant women, those with chronic diseases ranging from asthma to diabetes, people who have low immunity because of prescriptions or other conditions, and children under 19 on long-term aspirin therapy. High-risk groups should contact their doctors as soon as they notice symptoms.
Q: How do you get H1N1? A: H1N1, like most viruses and seasonal flu, is spread by coughing and sneezing. People pick up the germs on their hands after touching objects or shaking hands. This is why it’s important to wash your hands or use alcohol gel as often as possible. Remember to always cover your sneeze or cough with a tissue that is quickly thrown away. Also, try to sneeze into the elbow of a jacket or shirt instead of on your hands. This way, the germs are more likely to be trapped in the fabric than passed on to hard surfaces.
Q: What should I do if I think my child has H1N1? A: Step back and think about your child’s symptoms. Is he or she experiencing a combination of a fever over 100 degrees F, a cough and a sore throat or other signs? If your child has multiple symptoms, it’s time to call the doctor. Your child’s primary care physician or nurse can give you guidance about whether you need medical attention, like an office visit or a trip to the ER. Many people who come down with H1N1 will recover without needing medical treatment. They’ll need to drink lots of fluids, though, and will have to lay low away from others. If you take your child to the ER or doctor, make sure to tell the staff immediately about his symptoms so they can give him a mask to wear.
Q: Are there emergency warning signs for H1N1 in children? A: Yes. The CDC recommends urgent medical attention for children who have the following symptoms: • Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing; • Skin color that is bluish or gray; • Not drinking enough fluids to stay hydrated; • Severe or persistent vomiting; • Not awaking or not interacting with others; • Being so irritable the child refuses to be held; or • Flu-like symptoms that improve but later return with fever and a worse cough.
Q: What should I do if my child does have seasonal flu or H1N1? How do I care for him? A: It’s a good idea to come up with a plan ahead of time. Think about whether a parent or other family member can take time off work to be with your children if they get H1N1. Children with H1N1 or seasonal flu won’t be able to return to school until they are symptom-free for 24 hours. If your child has been diagnosed with H1N1, it’s important to keep him or her home from school so more germs aren’t passed around. Be sure to wash your own hands, as well as your child’s, constantly. Your doctor will give you the best instructions on how to treat the disease. The options may include prescribing antiviral drugs (pills, liquid syrup, or an inhaler) in severe cases. Children should not take aspirin or aspirin-containing products because they put them at risk for Reye’s syndrome. All patients with H1N1 will need to drink lots of fluids like water and Gatorade. You can find more tips at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm
Q: What can I do to keep my family safe from H1N1? A: Here are some good tips from the CDC: • First of all, wash your hands as frequently as you can – especially after you sneeze or cough. You can use good-old-fashioned soap and water (scrub well!) or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. • Also, stay informed! Read up on new information about H1N1 because the situation will change all the time. The best information will be at www.cdc.gov. • Make sure to cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue that you throw away immediately. • Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth. This is how germs spread. • Stay away from people who are sick. • If you have flu-like symptoms, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever has gone away except to seek medical attention. Stay away from others as much as you can so you don’t get them sick, too.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital is the only pediatric medical center in Arkansas and one of the largest in the United States serving children from birth to age 21. The campus spans 28 city blocks and houses 316 beds, a staff of approximately 500 physicians, 80 residents in pediatrics and pediatric specialties and more than 4,000 employees. The private, nonprofit healthcare facility boasts an internationally renowned reputation for medical breakthroughs and intensive treatments, unique surgical procedures and forward-thinking medical research - all dedicated to fulfilling our mission of enhancing, sustaining and restoring children's health and development. ACH recently ranked No. 85 on FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®. For more information, visit www.archildrens.org.
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