Flu and fever: what is it and how can I fight it??

As soon as an "R" appears in the month’s name again, the frequency of flu diseases increases. Your child is also particularly vulnerable during this time. While flu is similar to a cold, it is a respiratory infection, but the symptoms differ significantly. In this article, we discuss the difference between flu and cold and how you can help your child with flu. We also go into how to treat a child with a fever.

What exactly is flu?

The flu and cold are often mentioned in the same breath. From a medical point of view, the flu can definitely be distinguished from the common cold. It is triggered by the influenza virus and occurs more frequently in autumn and spring. There are different types of this type of virus, which can cause different clinical pictures. As with a harmless cold, the infection occurs through the inhalation of air contaminated with viruses or through physical contact with people and surfaces that carry viruses.

How contagious is the flu?

The flu is extremely contagious. The viruses survive for a long time and can be transmitted quickly. Children who go to kindergarten, daycare or childminder are particularly at risk of infection. Contact with toys that are exchanged among one another further increases the risk for children. Visiting other public places is always associated with a risk of infection during the flu period.

Flu epidemics |

If a particularly large number of people are affected by the flu at the same time, it is called a flu epidemic. The threshold is 51 out of 100,000 people who suffer from the symptoms of flu for at least two weeks in a row. During a flu epidemic, you shouldn’t be surprised if your child is also affected. Up to a third of babies fall ill during such a period because the immune system of toddlers is even more vulnerable. In addition, children do not yet have an understanding of hygiene that would be comparable to that of adults and protect them from infection.

Symptoms of the flu

The symptoms of flu are comparable to a cold, but they are usually much longer-lasting and more serious. Your child’s immune system has to work harder to beat the flu. You recognize the flu:

– a runny nose
– many and strong coughing attacks
– poor appetite
– Chills and feeling cold
– fever
– increased crying
– severe tiredness and a lot of sleeping
– dizziness

You cannot recognize some symptoms externally and your child cannot yet communicate them. You still torture your child during the flu and sometimes cause the above symptoms. They include headache, muscle and sore throat. You should keep a close eye on the flu, as your child is also more susceptible to more serious illnesses, such as pneumonia.

Flu – what to do?

The flu is caused by viruses, not by bacteria. So antibiotics are useless. Once your child is ill, you have to rely on his immune system. The child’s body must overcome the flu itself. You can still take measures to support your child. The child needs rest. It should be able to sleep whenever it wants and stay in the house if possible. Adequate hydration can help. Your child must be able to drink whenever they want. It does not matter whether it is water or another drink.

Healing can be accelerated by taking some precautions:

– Wash or disinfect your child’s hands regularly. This prevents.
another contagion as it kills bacteria and viruses.
– Don’t dress your child too warm. Even if it shivers, it doesn’t have to be too cold for him
his. Light cotton clothing is sufficient.
– Do not turn your heating up too high. A normal room temperature is fine.

Alleviate the symptoms

The runny nose can be emptied with a nasal aspirator for toddlers. This way your child can breathe better and sleep more peacefully. Sore throat and cough can be alleviated with cough syrup, acetaminophen helps with headache and body aches. Please note the dosage regulations for your child. These are stated on the packaging or the package insert.

Fever in babies

Does your baby feel warm or glow? A thermometer tells you the exact body temperature and provides information about whether your child really has a fever. It is most accurate if you measure in your child’s anus. Both electrical and analog clinical thermometers are suitable for temperature determination.

– 37º Celsius: normal body temperature
– between 37.5º and 38º Celsius: slightly elevated temperature
– between 38º and 40º Celsius: fever
– from 40º Celsius: strong fever

If you have a fever, pay special attention to your child’s hydration. Offer an extra cup of water or milk.

Dealing with fever in babies

In principle, an elevated temperature or a fever is harmless in the child and, like the flu, will leave the body on its own. Even if your child does not want to eat anymore, there is no need to worry at first. This is perfectly normal.
It is more important to have enough liquid so that your child does not dry out. Enough drinks must always be available. Your child now also needs a lot of rest. It doesn’t just get it in bed, you can take it with you in everyday life. Give your child a lot of love and attention, it is especially needed now.

When does my child go to the doctor with a fever?

Even if your child’s immune system can cope with some, there are cases when you should see a doctor. Your alarm bells should ring as soon as:

– Your child is younger than three months
– The fever persists for more than 3 days without noticeably decreasing
– Your baby doesn’t want to drink anymore
– Your baby vomits, gets diarrhea or has an unnatural skin color
occurs
– The fever returns after several fever-free days
– Your baby will have difficulty breathing
– Your child is particularly sleepy and wakes up poorly
– Your child has febrile seizures or convulsions and his limbs
twitching uncontrollably

Basically fever and flu are harmless. Unfortunately, you can only fight the symptoms to make the illness more bearable for your child. The disease itself is fought by your child’s immune system itself. Until the discomfort is resolved, your child should be allowed to rest, drink a lot, and get even more attention and love than under normal circumstances. However, always keep a close eye on the flu. The risk of really serious diseases such as pneumonia is greatly increased in some flu viruses. Your child’s immune system is working at full speed against the flu, so avoid exposing it to other pathogens. Isn’t your child flu-free after two weeks? Then a visit to the pediatrician is mandatory.

About this article

This article is an entry in a series on common childhood diseases. The information has been carefully cured to the best of our knowledge. We especially want to help young parents with the flu and fever in their children. All children and disease courses are different. For this reason, we would like to recommend that you consult your family doctor or your pediatrician if you have particularly severe and / or particularly long-lasting symptoms. They know your child’s medical history and current situation best. In this way it can be assessed whether further examinations or medical measures are necessary.

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