Although flu season usually doesn't begun until around November, this year in October there were already reports of flu in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, Hawaii and North Dakota.
And according to the CDC, influenza activity in the United States continued to increase this past week. Fewer states are reporting widespread flu activity (38 states, down from 42 states last week) and the percentage of people going to the doctor for influenza like illnesses is decreasing. Hopefully this means that flu cases will have peaked and will begin to slow down for the rest of the season.
These early cases of flu, predictions that this may be the worst flu season in 30 years, and reports of at least 93 children dying, have many parents worried. If you have been putting off getting a flu shot, you should get one as soon as possible, although with the current shortages, it is likely too late.
Although there are reports that one of the strains of flu that is infecting people was not included in this year's flu shot, getting your family an influenza vaccine is still your best way to avoid getting sick with the flu.
When should you get your flu vaccination?
OCTOBER to NOVEMBER is the Best Time
DECEMBER OR LATER is Not Too Late.
However, since the flu shot manufacturers have run out of vaccine, so it may be too late. Your doctor or local health department may still have some flu shots, so you may be able to get vaccinated if you can find a flu shot. FluMist, the nasal spray flu vaccine is also reportedly still in good supply.
Many of the flu medications described below, can also be used to prevent your child from getting infected if he is exposed to someone that is sick with the flu.
Flu Treatments for Kids
The flu, like the common cold, is caused by a virus, so antibiotics don't work against it. However, there are many antiviral medications that can be used to treat the flu and may help your child to get better a few days faster. In general, they are only effective if started within 1-2 days of your child's symptoms beginning. Flu medications include:- Relenza (Zanamivir) - a Diskhaler that is given by inhalation to children over the age of seven years. It is effective against Influenza type A and B.
- Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) - available as a capsule or oral suspension and can be used as a flu treatment in children over the age of 1 years and as prophylaxis for children over age 13 and adults. It is also effective against Influenza type A and B.
- Symmetrel (Amantadine) - an older medication that is only effective against Influenza type A and can be used to prevent and treat the flu in children over 12 months of age
- Flumadine (Rimantadine) - also only effective against type A Influenza and it is only approved for use to prevent the flu in children under 10 years, and not as a flu treatment.
Is it a Cold or the Flu?
In the past, it really wasn't important to know if your child had a cold or the flu, since in both cases, you just treated the symptoms. But now, since treatments are available for the flu, it can be important to know for sure whether or not your child has the flu.The flu should be suspected if your child has typical flu symptoms as described above, especially if he has been exposed to someone else with the flu. Testing can be done in many doctors' offices from a throat or nasal swab, with results in about half an hour.
If your child tests positive for the flu, or if testing is unavailable, but the flu is strongly suspected, then he may be a candidate for one of the flu medications described above. Other family members and close contacts might also be a candidate for flu medications to prevent them from getting sick. Updated for the 2003-2004 Flu Season.
For more information, please visit our guide to Kids and the Flu.
