What is the duration of a flu in a child. Learn about the symptoms, complications, and treatment options for influenza in children. Discover how to keep your child comfortable and when to call the doctor.

Understanding Influenza in Children

Influenza, commonly known as the “flu,” is a respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. Influenza outbreaks occur annually, typically between November and April, and the viruses can change from year to year, making it possible for people to catch the flu more than once. The term “seasonal flu” refers to the influenza viruses that spread every year.

How Does Influenza Spread?

Influenza viruses are found in the nose and throat, and children can catch the virus from their siblings, parents, other family members, playmates, or caregivers. Germs can spread through direct contact, such as kissing, touching, or holding hands with an infected person; indirect contact, like touching a surface or object that has been touched by an infected person; or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Recognizing Influenza Symptoms in Children

The flu strikes more quickly than a cold and makes children feel worse. While children with colds usually have the energy to play and maintain their daily routines, children with influenza are typically in bed. Typical influenza symptoms in children include sudden fever, chills and shakes, headache, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, and loss of appetite. Newborns and babies may have a high fever with no other signs of sickness, while young children often have temperatures over 39.5°C and may experience febrile seizures. Upset stomach, pain, vomiting, diarrhea, earaches, and red eyes are also common in younger children. In some cases, muscle inflammation can lead to severe leg or back pain.

Potential Complications of Influenza in Children

Although most healthy people recover from the flu without any serious problems, influenza can cause complications in young children. These may include croup (an infection of the throat and vocal cords), pneumonia (lung infection), and bronchiolitis (infection of the tiny airways leading to the lungs). Influenza can also weaken the immune system, leading to bacterial infections of the ear, lung, or sinuses. Influenza is more severe in children under 2 years of age and in children with certain chronic conditions, such as heart, lung, or neurological problems. In rare cases, influenza can affect the brain or heart.

Caring for a Child with Influenza

To keep your child comfortable, offer plenty of fluids and small, nutritious meals. If they have a fever, dress them in lightweight clothing and keep the room temperature around 20°C. To ease pain, aches, or a fever with a temperature greater than 38.5°C, use acetaminophen or ibuprofen (for children over 6 months old). Avoid giving acetylsalicylic acid (ASA [e.g., Aspirin]) or any medicine containing it, as it can lead to Reye syndrome. Don’t give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to children younger than 6 years old unless your doctor prescribes them. Gargling with warm water can ease a sore throat, and children 3 years of age or older who can safely suck on hard candy without choking can use sugarless hard candy or lozenges containing honey, herbs, or pectin.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If your child has lung or heart disease, an illness that affects the immune system, or another chronic condition that requires regular medical attention, and you think they may have influenza, call your doctor right away. Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug, which can be most effective if taken within 48 hours of the first symptoms. Additionally, call your doctor or take your baby to an emergency department if your baby is under 3 months of age and is having trouble breathing or is not drinking enough fluids.

Duration of Influenza in Children

The duration of influenza in children can vary, but typically, fever and muscle aches last only 2 to 4 days, while cough and tiredness can continue for 1 to 2 weeks or more. However, the severity and duration of the illness can be influenced by the child’s age, overall health, and any underlying medical conditions.