Understanding Influenza and the Flu Vaccine

Marin Mommies is pleased to Introduce the first guest post by pediatricians Dr. Steven Martel and Dr. Oded Herbsman. Drs. Herbsman and Martel are the founders of Child’s Light Pediatrics, Inc., an innovative, house-call based pediatric practice that serves Marin and San Francisco.

Fall and Winter is a frequent time for illness in children. One frequent cause of Fall and Winter illness is influenza or “the flu”.  Fortunately, there is a way to diminish the likelihood that children are sidelined by this illness.

What is Influenza?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by any strain of influenza virus.  It causes mild to severe illness, and is potentially serious in younger and chronically ill children. 

Each flu season is unique, but it is estimated that 5-20% of people in the U.S. get the flu. More than 200,000 persons are hospitalized for flu-related complications yearly. 
The flu virus spreads easily in droplets from coughs and sneezes. People become infected when droplets of an infected person are deposited on the mouth or nose of another person or on objects that are touched by that person.

Does my child have the flu?
Many children who have flu experience high fever, headache, muscle aches and tiredness.  They may have dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and even nausea and vomiting.

A flu test for the 2 most common strains of flu viruses can be done on nasal secretions.  However, because there are many different flu viruses, it is possible not to have either strain, yet still have influenza.

What do I do if my child has the flu?
Most treatment of the flu is symptomatic.  Encourage fluids and reduce fever with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. NEVER use aspirin to treat fever in children with flu as this can create complications.

Most children with the flu feel quite sick until day 4 of the illness then slowly get better. Most return to usual activity within 7-10 days.  Fevers that persist beyond 4 days could indicate flu complications or other diseases and should be evaluated by your child’s medical provider.

How can my child avoid getting the flu?

• Proper, frequent hand washing.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Get a flu vaccination each year.

The flu vaccine is highly effective against influenza.  However, since strains of flu viruses change each year, specialists try to predict which strains of the flu are likely to be prevalent during each flu season. Therefore, vaccination is not always 100% effective.

Should my child be vaccinated?
The recommendations for vaccination include:

• Children 6 months-4 years.
• Children and adolescents (6 months-18 years) on aspirin therapy.
• Children with chronic diseases like asthma, cancer, immune deficiencies, diabetes or kidney problems.
• Children with neurologic or cognitive conditions that can compromise. breathing, the handling of secretions or that increase the risk of aspiration.
• Healthy household contacts and caregivers of children aged <5 years.
• Healthy household contacts of children with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.

Your child should not receive flu vaccination if he/she has an allergic hypersensitivity to eggs or has an acute severe febrile illness.

What flu vaccines are available for children?
There are 2 types of vaccines approved for children. 

1. The "flu shot” contains killed virus.  Some people do experience low fever and/or soreness within 1-2 days of the shot. However, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot.

• The flu shot is approved for use in healthy and chronically ill children older than 6 months.
• Thimerosol-free flu shots are available from some manufacturers.

2. The nasal-spray flu vaccine (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine- LAIV) contains live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu.  Some people do experience mild flu-like symptoms within a few days of vaccination.

• LAIV is approved for use in healthy children >2 years and who are not pregnant.
• LAIV is thimerosol-free.

About 2 weeks after vaccination, a person is considered protected from influenza infection.

By following the recommendations above, you can minimize the chance that your children are affected by influenza this season.

Please consult your child’s health care provider for specific recommendations for your child.

Dr. Steven Martel
Dr. Oded Herbsman

Drs. Herbsman and Martel are the founders of Child’s Light Pediatrics, Inc. an innovative, house-call based pediatric practice that serves Marin and San Francisco Counties.  For more information, please contact them at www.childslightpediatrics.com