Flu season always created a sense of fear and caution, wanting to protect your child from contracting the illness. When you put Covid-19 into the mix, it causes even greater concern – and even some confusion. Note, it is safe to have your child get a flu shot if they have had the Covid-19 vaccine.
It’s important to take preventative measures
We’ve already learned how to be extra cautious in protecting ourselves from Covid-19, including masks, good washing techniques, and keeping your distance. Just like Covid precautions, during flu season it’s important to take preventative measures for you and your children.
This includes:
1. Practicing good etiquette for coughing and sneezing. Because flu germs can spread more than 5 feet through coughing and sneezing, it’s important that your child covers their mouth with a tissue. Also, after coughing or sneezing, it’s important to have your children wash their hands.
2. Keep sick children away from school. If your child is sick, it’s important that they stay home from school and avoid play dates.
3. Keep hands and surfaces clean. During this time of year, it’s especially important to keep disinfectant and hand sanitizer on you at all times. It’s also important to teach your children the proper way to wash their hands.
4. Maintain a proper diet. Prepare well-balanced meals that include vegetables, fruit, milk and water for your children. In addition to a proper diet, make sure your child gets at least one hour of physical activity each day.
How do you know if it’s the flu or Covid?
Healthychildren.org, a partner of the American Academy of Pediatrics, created the chart above to compare the 2 illnesses. It is a good guide to reference, although not failsafe.
What If My Child Has The Flu?
Even with taking all the necessary precautions, it’s still possible that your child may get the flu. Home care remedies for your child include:
- Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks plenty of fluid.
- Use medicated chest rubs and saline drops for children over the age of one.
- Use fever reducers, such as Tylenol, Motrin and Advil.
- Though home remedies are effective when it comes to treating the flu, a pediatrician may prescribe antiviral medication for the first 48 hours.