It is normal to worry when we see that a child in the house begins to catch a cold and have breathing problems. The flu is an easily contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory tract. This virus travels through the air, so coughing, talking, or sneezing is enough to spread it to another person. Although the flu is a disease that affects all types of people, children, among others, are more likely to contract the virus, since their immune system is not fully developed. In addition, they are less aware of the routes of spread, personal hygiene between them, so contagion is much simpler.
While it is true that the flu in children usually occurs without major complications, it is essential to keep in mind that if the fever lasts more than two days or your child is under 2 years old, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible to avoid complications.
Although it is true that there is no proper treatment for the infection, there are options to treat the symptoms and reduce discomfort in the child. Below, in, we explain everything you need to know about the flu in children and how to help relieve it.
Flu Symptoms in Children
Some of the most characteristic symptoms of the flu in children are the following:
- Dry cough
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Stuffy nose
- Sore throats
- Headache
- Malaise
- Weariness
In case of these symptoms, it is important to consult with the pediatrician and not to administer any medication to the child without a prescription.
Tips to help relieve the flu in children
Although there is no specific treatment to cure the flu in children, a number of steps can be taken to help relieve symptoms and help speed up a child's recovery. It is important to note that these recommendations are recommended for children over 2 years old, since if they are younger you should go to the doctor:
- Hot baths: Famous mists are not always a good idea to treat the flu. Although it is true that they are beneficial for expelling mucus, they are dangerous for young children due to excess hot water. As an alternative, we propose to give hot baths with steam to your little one to accelerate his recovery without putting his health at risk.
- Do not forget personal hygiene: if your child has the flu, it is important that you take care of their personal hygiene at all times so that the risk of contagion with other people is lower. Washing your hands and covering your mouth and nose before coughing or sneezing are essential tricks to prevent other people from getting infected.
- Humidifier: Putting a humidifier in the little one's room is very beneficial so that he can breathe better and his nasal secretions remain moist at all times.
- Hydration: It is essential that you hydrate your child continuously to prevent his throat from drying out and becoming dehydrated. You can give it water, natural juices or hot broths.
- Healthy eating: although a healthy diet is important every day of the year, it is essential that the little one eats soft foods rich in vitamin C when he is cold or with the flu, since his immune system is more weakened.
- Rest: It is essential that the child rests as much as possible, since fighting the flu requires spending a lot of energy that only by sleeping can he recover.
Medicines to treat fever
Fever is a common symptom of the flu in children, but it is true that it can cause a lot of discomfort. For that reason, in addition to following the tips above, you can give fever-lowering medications in children. Nurofen Junior 100mg chewable softgels is an ibuprofen-based medicine indicated for symptomatic relief of fever and occasional symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate pain associated with the common cold in children from 20 kilos (7 years) and up to 40 kilos (12 years). For younger children, you can check the range of products of the brand. Do not administer in case of gastroduodenal ulcer. Read the package leaflet before using this medicine and consult your pharmacist.
Nurofen Junior is a medicine from Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare, S.A.
