Perhaps the best way to protect children from flu is through the flu vaccine. But for children younger than six months, vaccine is not approved and available, and so were the influenza antiviral drugs. Consequently, children less than six months are at high risk of getting influenza virus.
Since there is still no available vaccine for young children less than one year, caregivers and child care providers must take into consideration some precautions on how they can prevent children from getting the flu. Here are some reminders:
• Get vaccines as soon as possible. Given that there is still no available vaccine for children less than six months, it is important that you get flu vaccine especially if you live with or care for infants who are highly vulnerable to diseases. Having vaccinated will not only protect you from having flu, but also your family and most especially the children you are taking care of.
• Enhance hygienic measures. Practice frequent hand washing especially before holding an infant, after feeding, and before and after changing diapers. Wash your hands using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner if water is not available. Basic and right hand washing will not only protect you and the child from flu but from all kinds of diseases as well. Also, try to cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, particularly when you are near to the infant. Try not to touch your mouth, eyes, and nose to prevent spreading germs. Aside from that, keep sick children home from school to prevent other people from getting sick too.
• Take antiviral drugs if you feel flu-like symptoms. High fever, coughing, sneezing, over fatigue, headache, muscle ache, sore throat and runny nose are some of the symptoms of influenza. If you develop these indications, consult right away your physician to get a prescription of the appropriate antiviral drugs you can take. If you already confirmed that you have flu, you should take antiviral drugs within 48 hours of getting sick. However, if you are not sick but you want to keep away from flu, antiviral drugs can be use for prevention and are 70% to 90% preventive.
• Take safety precautions when you get the flu. Influenza can be passed from person to person through respiratory droplets coming from coughing and sneezing. One can also get the flu after touching surfaces and objects contaminated with virus. If you get symptoms of having flu, like head ache, dry cough, sneezing, runny nose, and fever, consult your health provider. To avoid infecting infants, try to keep away from them. In addition, cover your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, and wash and dry your hands completely. If you really have to have contact with your infant like in feeding, rocking, and changing diapers and clothing, wear a surgical mask to prevent spreading germs and passing on viruses to your infant.
• Be vigilant. Examine if your infant develops flu-like symptoms. Consult your child’s doctor immediately if your child has cough, and high fever above 99º F under the arm, 99.5ºF orally, or 100ºF rectally.
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