Several school districts in Texas have decided to shut their doors temporarily due to a significant increase in illnesses. Besides the ongoing threat of COVID-19, there has been a notable rise in flu cases as well as cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the region. The Godley Independent School District in Godley, Texas, reported a sharp decrease in attendance, with around 650 students absent due to the flu alone on Tuesday. Additionally, numerous staff members were also affected by illness.
To prevent further spread of sickness, the affected schools are taking advantage of the temporary closure to thoroughly sanitize their buildings and transportation. Nationally, the flu is also on the rise, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention observing an increase in positive flu tests. This flu season has seen 47 pediatric deaths and an estimated 11,000 deaths from approximately 20 million flu cases.
What are the common flu symptoms in children? According to Dr. Janine Zee-Cheng, a pediatrician in Indiana, patients with the flu typically experience a fever as the primary symptom. Other symptoms, as outlined by the CDC, include feeling feverish, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, fatigue, and in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea, which are more prevalent in children than adults.
If your child is a young infant, it’s advisable to consult a pediatrician at the first sign of fever or any other illness symptoms. Older children may not require immediate medical attention. There are now over-the-counter combination COVID-19/flu rapid tests available for testing at home. However, seek medical help if your child experiences difficulty breathing or staying hydrated.
Tamiflu is a medication that can reduce the duration of flu symptoms but may have side effects such as vomiting and diarrhea. Doctors usually reserve Tamiflu for severe cases, preferably within 48 hours of symptom onset. If a child has a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for five days or more, seek medical advice to check for complications like pneumonia or ear infections.
Dr. Zee-Cheng suggests that while prolonged fevers are common this flu season, observe your child’s demeanor in addition to their temperature. A child who appears disoriented or unresponsive should see a doctor promptly, even if the fever is not extremely high. On the other hand, a child with a high fever but otherwise behaving normally may not require immediate medical attention.
Blindness can be prevented. Getting the flu shot is the best way to protect yourself against the flu. How can we avoid getting sick? Fortunately, we have an effective tool to prevent severe illness and deaths caused by the flu: the flu vaccine. If you or your children haven’t received the vaccine yet this year, it’s not too late.
The CDC reports that 44.1% of children aged 6 months to 17 years have been vaccinated this flu season. In the 2023-2024 flu season, an estimated 48.8% of children were vaccinated. This percentage was higher at 51.3% in the 2022-2023 season.
The proportion of children receiving the flu vaccine has been decreasing each year since the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping from 62.4% in May 2020. One potential reason for this decline is an increase in vaccine hesitancy post-pandemic. A survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that the percentage of people believing that U.S.-approved vaccines are safe decreased from 77% in 2021 to 71% in 2023.
There is also evidence indicating that when individuals are skeptical about one vaccine, they are more likely to question others. A study revealed that parents who had not received the COVID-19 vaccine were less inclined to vaccinate their children against measles, mumps, and rubella. Republican parents were also less likely to vaccinate their children for MMR.
Some individuals hesitate to get the flu shot because they hear that it may not be a good match for the prevalent flu virus. However, experts note that the flu vaccine is reformulated each year. The CDC states that the real-world effectiveness estimates for this season’s vaccine won’t be available until February, months after the vaccine’s release.
The CDC explains that the flu shot provides protection against three different influenza viruses, with multiple strains circulating during the flu season. Although the vaccine’s effectiveness may vary annually, vaccinated individuals typically experience milder illness compared to unvaccinated individuals. On average, the CDC states that the flu shot reduces the risk of illness by 40% and the risk of hospitalization by 60%. For these reasons, the CDC recommends the flu vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older. Babies usually receive two doses, four weeks apart.
During cold and flu season, doctors may ask families to reschedule vaccinations if a child has a fever. Consequently, some parents delay vaccinating their child until they show no signs of illness. Yet, during this season, it’s common for children to have a persistent runny nose or cough.
Mild illness symptoms should not deter you from vaccinating your child. It’s safe for your child to receive vaccines even if they have a cold, ear infection, cough, runny nose, low-grade fever, or diarrhea. They can also be vaccinated while taking antibiotics. Your child’s illness will not affect the vaccine’s
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