For Kids, the Flu is More than a Runny Nose

Jacksonville, Florida
Thursday, September 13, 2007 @ 10:17 AM EDT
by: Odette Struys
(904) 697-4186

Complications Can Lead to Hospitalization and Even Death

Nemours, one of the nation’s largest children’s health systems wants parents to know just how important it is to get their children an annual flu shot. As the cold and flu season nears, parents are getting prepared for the sniffles, days home from school and visits to the doctor. But before parents head to the pharmacy to stock their medicine cabinets, they should head to the doctor’s office to get themselves and their children an annual influenza or “flu” vaccine.

Most Americans underestimate the severity of the flu. Each year, about 20,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized due to flu, and some even die from serious complications.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination as the best way to protect children against the flu. “Not only does vaccination help protect children from getting the flu, but it also helps stop the spread of the virus to others at school and home,” said Samir Midani, MD, Chief of Infectious Disease at Nemours Children’s Clinic.

With more vaccine available this year than ever before, CDC officials say vaccination for children, especially those ages six months to five years and those with certain chronic health conditions such as asthma or diabetes, should be a top priority. Because infants under six months are too young for vaccination, the CDC recommends protecting them by having every member of the household and all of the infant’s caregivers vaccinated.

A second dose of flu vaccine is required for children ages six months to 8 years who are getting vaccinated for the first time. The second dose must be given four to six weeks after the first.

The flu, which can cause symptoms such as high fever, headache, coughing, nausea, weakness and muscle aches, can easily spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes near others.

“The flu vaccine is safe and effective and cannot cause the flu. Because different influenza viruses circulate each year, a new flu vaccine must be made each year to fight these viruses, which is why it is important to get a flu vaccine every year,” said Dr. Midani.

Timing for flu vaccination is critical, as the flu typically peaks in January or later. It takes about two weeks to build immunity to the flu after vaccination. That’s why vaccination is encouraged as soon as vaccine becomes available in your community, and anytime between September and January or later.

To learn when or where to get a flu vaccine, contact your doctor or local health department. For more information on the flu vaccine, call the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

modified: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 @ 07:50 AM EDT
created: Thursday, September 13, 2007 @ 10:18 AM EDT

About Nemours

Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, is dedicated to achieving higher standards in children’s health. Nemours offers an integrated spectrum of clinical treatment coupled with research, advocacy, and educational health and prevention services extending to all families in the communities it serves. Starting with Alfred I. duPont’s bequest over seventy years ago, Nemours has grown into a multi-dimensional organization offering personalized clinical and preventive care focused on children.

Nemours owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and major children’s specialty clinics in Delaware (Wilmington), Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr) and New Jersey (Atlantic City and Voorhees). Having recently received preliminary approval from the State of Florida, Nemours will establish a new full-service children’s hospital as part of an integrated pediatric health campus in Orlando. KidsHealth.org, the world’s most visited pediatric health care Web site for parents, kids and teens, is a project of Nemours.

Nemours employs over 4,400 individuals, including 430 pediatric physicians, specialists and surgeons who cared for approximately a quarter of a million children in 2007. The organization’s goal is to align with parents, physicians, community leaders, children’s advocates and elected officials to ensure optimal wellness for every child. Additional information about Nemours can be found at www.nemours.org.