Answer:

When children have the flu, families need to be alert for complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia leading to respiratory failure, myocarditis, encephalitis, and multiple organ failure. The flu can worsen with secondary or co-infections with other pathogens.

First, you should take your child for a medical examination for diagnosis and home monitoring as directed by a doctor. This helps rule out illnesses with flu-like symptoms that require prompt treatment, such as meningococcal disease or other serious conditions.

If your child has mild symptoms like a runny nose, cough, and fever that responds to antipyretics, you can treat them at home. Here are some things parents should keep in mind when caring for a child with the flu at home:

If your child has a stuffy nose, quickly help them clear their airways. For example, use saline drops or hypertonic saline, and adjust their position so their head and shoulders are gradually elevated for easier breathing. Difficulty breathing often leads to loss of appetite and sleep, weakening the body and delaying recovery.

Children with the flu can be cared for at home. Be aware of signs like rapid breathing, chest retractions, or seizures, which necessitate immediate hospitalization. Photo: Vecteezy

Coughing can also make it hard for children to sleep and cause fatigue. Parents should give their child herbal or over-the-counter cough medicine, as prescribed by a doctor, to help them feel better.

When a child has a fever, parents need to ensure they stay hydrated. Children under 6 months should have smaller, more frequent milk feedings. Children over 6 months should have additional water and smaller meals. This not only compensates for fluid loss due to high fever but also helps thin mucus, promoting faster recovery.

With proper care, children can recover from the flu in about 3-5 days. However, because young children cannot describe their symptoms, parents need to observe them carefully. Take your child to the hospital immediately if they experience symptoms like rapid breathing, chest retractions, a high fever that doesn't subside after 3 days, seizures, or loss of consciousness for prompt treatment.

Influenza is highly contagious and has caused several pandemics, including the Spanish Flu (1918-1919), which infected about 500 million people (one-third of the world's population at the time) and resulted in 50-100 million deaths. The Hong Kong Flu pandemic (1968-1969) originated in Hong Kong and spread globally, causing over one million deaths.

Effective flu vaccines are available, with four currently in circulation in Vietnam: those from France, the Netherlands, and South Korea for children 6 months and older and adults; and one from Vietnam for people aged 18 to 60. Children under 9 who have not been vaccinated need two basic doses at least one month apart, followed by an annual booster. Adults receive one dose and an annual booster.

A person can get the flu multiple times a year. Therefore, if your family has not been vaccinated against the flu, you should arrange to get vaccinated soon to protect your health. It's also important to practice good hygiene, wash hands frequently with soap and water, wear a mask in public places, eat a nutritious diet, and exercise regularly to maintain a healthy body and strong resistance to disease.

Doctor Pham Van Phu

Medical Manager of Region 3, VNVC Vaccination System

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