Influenza is a viral infection that spreads rapidly from
one person to another. This disease is seen more often
during the winters. The patient having flu is infectious to others
from the day before the onset of symptoms until the time he
recovers from fever and other symptoms.
SYMPTOMS: If more than
one member of the family has body ache, headache, fever, nasal discharge, loss of
appetite, severe weakness and an upset stomach, we are most likely dealing with flu.
TREATMENT: No antibiotics need be given. For relief of symptoms, paracetamol can be given
every 4 to 6 hours. A child may be allowed to eat as per his inclination. In
case of poor appetite, which is common during the illness,
enough liquids including fruit juices, soups, coconut water and
plain water should be given to ensure adequate urine output.
For lowering the fever and also otherwise, sponging the
whole body with a little warm water is very comforting.
The child should stay at home for a couple of days even after the fever settles, because flu
can make a child
feel very weak.
