Flu guidance for parents

May 1, 2009 2:38 PM

Schools have been one of the main avenues of transmission of the H1N1 (swine) flu in the U.S. Some individual schools have closed, and in Fort Worth, Texas today all public schools were closed through May 11, according to the New York Times. More closings will likely follow.

All parents should stay informed about flu incidence in their local communities and teach their children about the simple measures that can help prevent infection. If you live in a community where the H1N1 flu has been diagnosed or suspected, stay in contact with your school or daycare, and local public health authorities to get the latest information and guidance.

Here are the key prevention, planning, and treatment recommendations from the federal government and Consumer Reports’ medical experts.

Prevention:

If swine flu is in your community, stay away from malls, theaters and other crowded places.
Teach your children to wash their hands vigorously with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before and after eating, and after coughing or sneezing.
Show them how to cough or sneeze into their elbow to avoid infecting their hand, or cover their mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, and to throw it away.
Tell them to try their best to keep a distance of about six feet from others who are sick.
Keep sick children at home from school or daycare until they are better. Children can remain infectious longer than adults, up to 10 days, compared to about 7 for adults.

Planning:

If the flu does come, expect school closings and have a plan in place for taking care of your child. If you don’t have any friends or relatives who can take care of your kids in an emergency, you might ask your employer what options you might have. Can you take time off, sick leave or telecommute? It’s best to get these questions answered now, so you’re prepared in the event of a school closing, or a sick child. You might also get in touch with your daycare to see if a pandemic flu plan is in place. If not you can help them make one.

Treatment:

If your child does get symptoms of the flu call your health provider to see about testing and treatment. Typical symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and headache, chills and fatigue and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and vomiting. Very young children appear less likely to have typical flu symptoms, like fever and cough. In young children also watch for difficulty breathing and low activity. If infants have fever and lethargy, call the doctor, even if they don’t have respiratory symptoms, like coughing.

Pregnant women and young children, especially those under 5 years of age and those with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of complications of flu.

Your doctor may prescribe one of the antiviral drugs—either Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or Relenza (zanamivir)--for children one year of age or older. Also, the FDA recently issued an emergency authorization allowing Tamiflu to be prescribed for children under one.

In addition to an antiviral medication, ask about fever reducing medications appropriate for their age. Stay away from aspirin, and aspirin-containing products such as Pepto-Bismol, which can cause Reye’s syndrome, and for children under six, cough and cold medicines. Make sure children have plenty of liquids, such as water, juice or Pedialyte, and keep them comfortable so they get enough rest. To limit transmission, try to keep sick children separated from uninfected ones, and give them a box of tissues and a garbage bag to throw them away in.

Seek emergency help if you notice any of the following symptoms in children: