Cincinnati Children's Hospital expert on what to do to protect your family from the flu
Have questions about the spike in reported cases of the flu?
This Q&A with Dr. Joshua Schaffzin, director of infection control and prevention at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, should help answer them.
How does the flu this season compare with other outbreaks?
We are seeing a very active season with widespread illness in our and other communities. It is still relatively early in the season, so it’s hard to compare to other seasons.
What are flu symptoms?
Flu often has an abrupt onset with fever, cough and body aches. People often describe feeling as though they were hit by a truck. Children often have very low energy, and often will stay in bed or on the couch when they normally might be up and playing.
What is the incubation period?
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body.
What are the different kinds of treatments?
The primary treatment is supportive, focusing on the symptoms. Over-the-counter anti-fever and anti-pain medicines can be helpful. Drinking lots of fluids to stay hydrated is important.
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If your provider thinks it is appropriate, there are three FDA-approved medications, one of which is oral. Tamiflu, or Oseltamivir, is approved for patients over 14 days old. It has been shown to shorten the length of illness. It is known to have side effects, including nausea and diarrhea. Patients should talk to their providers about whether Tamiflu or a different antiviral would be appropriate for them.
How best can people protect themselves and their children from the flu?
There are three things we recommend to help prevent flu and other illnesses:
1. Get a flu shot. It is never too late to be vaccinated for flu. Any protection is better than none, and studies have shown that the vaccine can reduce the risk of death and intensive care unit admission.
2. Wash your hands. Soap and water or alcohol-based gels and foams work well against the flu, and we touch a lot of things throughout the day.
3. If you are ill, stay home. The last thing anyone would want to do is spread illness in our community, especially to vulnerable patients. If you are ill, please stay home at least until your fever resolves and you are feeling better.
What is the duration of the typical flu season?
From the CDC: “While seasonal influenza (flu) viruses can be detected year-round in the United States, flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter. The exact timing and duration of flu seasons can vary, but influenza activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although activity can last as late as May.”
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For the Tristate, we typically peak in late December through February.
Is there anything important to add?
I often suggest to parents that they trust their instincts about their children. Expect kids with flu to be low energy and sleep a lot during the first two or three days. After that, they should be either getting better or staying the same, not getting worse. If they are getting worse, it’s a good time to pick up the phone and call your provider to talk about what to do next.
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