Flu Season: How to Avoid Catching the Flu

Back to school often means your child is likely to catch something so make sure you`re ready.

Now that your kids are back to school, you're probably embracing morning routines and nightly homework. School is an incredibly important place for kids to gain knowledge and develop mental and interpersonal skills – but it is also a hotspot for bacteria and viruses. So be sure to prepare for the inevitable: the back-to-school illnesses.

Hearing that dreaded "cough cough" everywhere you go? Here's how to protect your child and yourself this flu season.

Symptoms of flu include the following:

• Cough
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Vomiting and diarrhea

While these are common indicators of the flu, your child may or may not have all of the above symptoms.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, comes on hard and fast. Compared to a common cold, a flu consists more fever, headache and muscle aches, and less cough, sore throat and runny nose.

Symptoms for both illnesses may seem similar, but those for the flu are generally more intense. While colds tend to only last a few days and are characterized by a stuffy or runny nose. The flu often includes fever and body aches and can leave your child miserable for weeks.

Symptoms aside, a bad case of the flu can also lead to major health complications such as pneumonia, inflammation of the heart, and multi-organ failure.

The easiest way to tell what illness your child has? Taking his/her temperature! Fevers often arrive at the beginning of a flu, while they're very rare for colds.

Staying healthy during the flu season can be challenging, as the virus is notoriously contagious. That said, taking the following precautions greatly increases your child’s chances of staying flu-free:

• Wash your child’s hands for at least 20 seconds with antibacterial soap and water. Especially after visiting the bathroom, and before touching his/her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Use a serving spoon when sharing food.
• Eat a balanced diet that includes at least two servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
• Exercise regularly
• Get 8 hours of quality sleep per night.
• Ask your doctor for antiviral medicine if your child have been exposed to someone with flu symptoms.

You could also consider a flu vaccination. A flu vaccination can reduce the chance of illness by up to 60%.

It takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to work, so you should get your child vaccinated before the flu season starts, once every year.

It's easy to get vaccinated at any hospital or clinic for a fee–a small price to pay to stay healthy!

If your child has got flu-like symptoms, take the following steps to recover quickly and prevent spreading the virus to others:

• Rest well and avoid strenuous activities like running until your child's recovered completely.
• Drink plenty of liquids
• Cover your child’s mouth with a tissue when coughing.
• Cover your child’s nose with a tissue when sneezing.
• Wear a surgical mask around others.
• Don't go to school, work, or public spaces while ill.

See a doctor immediately if your child develops the following symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing
• Persistent discomfort or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Persistent dizziness or confusion
• Seizures
• No urination
• Severe weakness or unsteadiness
• Severe muscle pain
• Fever or cough that refuses to improve.
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions

Even if your child’s symptoms are not severe, visiting a doctor is recommended to help your child recover more quickly and alleviate discomfort. A doctor may prescribe antiviral medication to fight the virus, and painkillers to deal with symptoms like headaches and muscle pains.