Has your child been complaining of a painful cavity? We suspect it’s the sweets eaten over the summer vacation.
Showing signs of poor eyesight?
Burning up all over with high fever?
Watch out: Flu season is here and that means it’s vital that your children take a flu shot! This will help prevent your child from catching fever, nasal congestion or coughing which would come in the way of their studies and their homework. What’s more, it also helps protect the students in your child’s class and prevents it from spreading. Despite the summer and a mild winter, it’s not surprising to see a lot of people in the UAE catching the flu.
But firstly, a simple question: What is flu? Simply put, Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and the lungs. It occurs during seasonal changes and can cause mild to severe illness.
The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year. The most likely viruses can be identified in advance and vaccines are then produced that closely match them. A flu vaccination shot is available to help protect people who are more at risk.
What harm can Seasonal Flu cause?
There are different levels of seasonal flu.
It can range from having symptoms like a cold, to developing more serious illnesses ranging from bronchitis to pneumonia, which may need urgent treatment.
Flu can be far worse in people already suffering from a chronic disease. The most common misconception among people about flu is that it’s just about having a bad cold that will pass quickly. It’s far worse: symptoms can include fever, chills, headaches, aching muscles, coughing and sore throat.
What makes it challenging is that because flu is a virus, even antibiotics in the worst cases, won’t be able to fully treat it.
Some people including children are more vulnerable to the effects of seasonal flu. For them, it can increase the risk of more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia or make existing conditions worse. In the worst cases, seasonal flu can result in a stay in hospital, and if ignored, prove fatal.
If you are at an increased risk from Seasonal Flu, it is important to consider having a seasonal flu vaccination.
What harm can Seasonal Flu cause?
There are different levels of seasonal flu. It can range from having symptoms like a cold, to developing more serious illnesses ranging from bronchitis to pneumonia, which may need urgent treatment. Flu can be far worse in people already suffering from a chronic disease. The most common misconception among people about flu is that it’s just about having a bad cold that will pass quickly. It’s far worse: symptoms can include fever, chills, headaches, aching muscles, coughing and sore throat. What makes it challenging is that because flu is a virus, even antibiotics in the worst cases, won’t be able to fully treat it. Some people including children are more vulnerable to the effects of seasonal flu. For them, it can increase the risk of more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia or make existing conditions worse. In the worst cases, seasonal flu can result in a stay in hospital, and if ignored, prove fatal. If you are at an increased risk from Seasonal Flu, it is important to consider having a seasonal flu vaccination.Back to School ‘Flu’
According to Dr. Nitin Trivedi Specialist Paediatrician at HealthHub Clinics, heading back to school can present serious physical and mental challenges for both children and parents alike. It’s the sudden transition from vacation to the school year that can be a bit overwhelming resulting in flu, caused by the influenza virus.
How can you tell the symptoms?
Symptoms of seasonal flu or influenza include a sudden onset of fever, coughing and headaches among other symptoms. The cough can be severe and can last for 2 or more weeks. Most healthy people recover from fever and other symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention. However young children, adults over 65 years of age and people with chronic medical conditions can have serious complications from influenza.
How does influenza or flu spread?
- Influenza is thought to be primarily spread through large droplets that directly contact the nose, mouth or eyes.
- Droplets are produced when infected people cough or sneeze, sending the relatively large infectious droplets and very small sprays (aerosols), into the nearby air and into contact with other people.
- Large droplets can only travel a limited range; therefore, people should limit close contact within 6 feet wherever and whenever possible.
How about flu treatment at home?
When it comes to flu treatment, common sense dictates that if you catch the flu, you should try to limit your contact with others. So, while you are at home, there are effective ways to control it:
Here are some things you could consider:
- Take total bed rest and avoid stressing yourself
- Make sure you constantly hydrate yourself: plenty of fluids every hour
- Medication that could include paracetamol or ibuprofen and cough and antiviral medication as prescribed by your doctor.
A Flu Vaccine has always proven to help!
A new CDC study of the 2018-2019 influenza season published in a Paediatrics journal, found that flu vaccination reduced influenza-related hospitalization by 41% and emergency department visits by half among children.
Prior studies have also shown that influenza vaccination can reduce influenza-related illnesses, doctor’s visits, missed work and school days, hospitalizations, and deaths.
Vaccine recommendations for children (6 months through 8 years)
- Children in this age group who have never received an influenza vaccine, and who have not had ≥ 2 doses of trivalent or quadrivalent vaccine before July 1, 2023, or whose vaccination history is not known, need 2 doses (4 weeks apart).
- Previous doses can be from different / non-consecutive seasons.
- 8-year-olds determined to receive 2 doses should get a second one even if they turn 9 years old (between dose 1 and dose 2).
Why wait? Benefit from our offer on flu vaccine right away!
We’ll help make your child’s health work before their homework with HealthHub Clinics’ Back-to-School General Health Package that includes:
- General Health Package @ AED 149
- Dental Cleaning @ AED 199
- Flu Vaccine @ AED 79
Just speak with our expert team of paediatricians today or book an appointment on 8002344!
Speaking of vaccines, find out more in our blog about the importance of immunization and vaccines that can help your child combat illness.
