It's Flu Season
October 5, 2005 | Infections
Dr. Craig Rubens talks about how to tell if your child has the flu and how to prevent them from passing it to you.
Read the Transcript
Good Growing: Time for Good Growing, focusing on our kids. Well every year, 36,000 people across the United States actually die from the flu. Those most at risk include the very old, the very young and those who are chronically ill.
Well, the flu season is just about upon us. It’s time to start thinking about it now though and Dr. Craig Rubens of Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center is with us this morning. Good morning to you.
Craig Rubens: Good morning.
Good Growing: So, anyone who’s been to the doctor’s office recently has seen the signs. They are starting to go up about those who are most at risk of getting vaccinated earlier first for the flu. What does that mean for generally healthy children?
Craig Rubens: Well, it means for generally healthy kids that we’re waiting until we get everybody that is more at risk for complications from the influenza virus infection.
So, we’re waiting to make sure all those that are very young, very old or chronically ill, to get vaccinated first and then as of about late October - October 24th - everybody will be able to get the vaccine.
Good Growing: So we are not anticipating any kind of shortage this year for flu vaccines? Parents need not worry?
Craig Rubens: The likelihood is less than the concern we had last year and so I think that that’s because companies are ramping up to make more of the vaccine to accommodate a potential shortage.
Good Growing: You know, a lot of people want to know why we have to get a flu shot every year. Why not every other year? Why is it every year? Is it the strain changes?
Craig Rubens: That’s actually a good question and it’s kind of complicated, but the germ changes every year and so basically, every year the body sees a different virus.
They’re all basically the same kind of virus, but they change their surface properties and that changes the way we see them in terms of our immune system.
Good Growing: And does it change the nature of the vaccine so they’re thinking a year ahead of the kind of strain they think is going to affect most of the population and we’re hoping that the two match up?
Craig Rubens: That’s right. It’s a game of anticipation. So we’re hoping that we’re right when we guess the potential strains that are going to be present this year.
Good Growing: How do you know if your child actually has a flu and how is the flu different from a cold? Let’s talk about some of the symptoms. I know that it starts with a high fever.
Craig Rubens: Right. It can be tricky because early on, it can feel just like a regular cold is coming on. But then it progresses within 24 hours to a higher fever, with the presence of muscle aches that are very apparent, not just general aching, but really severe muscle aches, headaches, and extreme tiredness.
Good Growing: You go downhill faster than with a general cold don’t you?
Craig Rubens: Right, and it lasts longer too.
Good Growing: Dry cough and a sore throat, which also sounds like a cold, but these are flu symptoms?
Craig Rubens: Right. The dry cough actually gets progressively worse. The sore throat can actually be fairly severe and in kids, they not only get the runny, stuffy nose like adults will get, but they’ll also sometimes get nausea, vomiting and even a little bit of diarrhea.
Good Growing: There’s a new study that’s out this morning. It talks about pre-schoolers and how adults usually get symptoms of flu about a month after a pre-schooler or a younger child is diagnosed with the flu. What can you tell us about that and how can adults protect themselves if their kids get the flu?
Craig Rubens: Well, like any respiratory infection, what we recommend for adults or anyone in the household that’s come in contact with somebody is to make sure you wash your hands. Keep your fingers away from your face.
Good Growing: Your nose and your mouth.
Craig Rubens: Your nose, your mouth and your eyes are the portals of entry. So, if you’re around somebody that’s coughing or sneezing on you, it may be a little bit too late at that point.
But if you can keep your hands washed, it’s picking up the virus on your fingers and transmitting it through your eyes, nose and mouth that are a big way of getting the flu.
Good Growing: And you know, a lot of people carry around those bottles of Purell. Is that as effective as washing your hands with soap and water or should you really think about using soap and water and washing them with that?
Craig Rubens: Well, we like to have kids use warm soap and water but if that isn’t available, then the alcohol gels are actually a great way to go. It’s a great way to prevent transmission.
Good Growing: Well, thanks for getting us ready. I see you’re ready for the flu season and to start treating the rest of us!