The Flu: What You Need to Know

It is flu season and news reports indicate that the flu is here in Atlanta and spreading quickly.

Although the Evansdale School Council encourages attendance at school, it is important to keep your child home if they have the flu.

Here is some information to help you and your family prevent the flu and recover from the flu if you catch it.

A flyer from the CDC can be found HERE.

Some of the highlights from the CDC handout are quoted below for convenience:

How serious is the flu? 

Flu illness can vary from mild to severe. While the flu can be serious even in people who are otherwise healthy, it can be especially dangerous for young children and children of any age who have certain long term health conditions, including asthma (even mild or controlled), neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, chronic lung disease, heart disease, blood disorders, endocrine disorders (such as diabetes), kidney, liver, and metabolic disorders, and weakened immune systems due to disease or medication. Children with these conditions and children who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy can have more severe illness from the flu.

How does the flu spread?

Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze
or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might get the flu by touching something that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or nose.

What are the symptoms of the flu? 

Symptoms of the flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Some people with the flu will not have a fever.

How long can a sick person spread the flu to others? 

People with the flu may be able to infect others by shedding virus from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7
days after. However, children and people with weakened immune systems can shed virus for longer, and might be still contagious past 5 to 7 days of being sick, especially if they still have symptoms.

What are some of the other ways I can protect my child against the flu?

In addition to getting vaccinated, take – and encourage your child to take – everyday steps that can help prevent the spread of germs.

This includes:
 Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
 Stay away from people who are sick.
 Wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
 If someone in the household is sick, try to keep the sick person in a separate room from others in the household, if possible.
 Keep surfaces like bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
 Throw tissues and other disposable items used by sick persons in your household in the trash.

What can I do if my child gets sick?

Talk to your doctor early if you are worried about your child’s illness.

If your child is 5 years and older and does not have other health problems and gets flu-like symptoms, including a fever and/or cough, consult your doctor as needed and make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks enough fluids.

If your child is younger than 5 years (and especially younger than 2 years) or of any age with a long term health condition (like asthma, a neurological condition, or diabetes, for example) and develops flu-like symptoms, they are at risk for serious complications from the flu. Ask a doctor if your child should be examined.

What if my child seems very sick? 

Even children who have always been healthy before or had the flu before can get very sick from the flu.

Call for emergency care or take your child to a doctor right away if your child of any age has any of the
warning or emergency signs below:

 Fast breathing or trouble breathing
 Bluish or gray skin color
 Not drinking enough fluids (not going to the bathroom or making as much urine as they normally do)
 Severe or persistent vomiting
 Not waking up or not interacting
 Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
 Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
 Has other conditions (like heart or lung disease, diabetes,or asthma) and develops flu symptoms,
including a fever and/or cough.

Can my child go to school, day care or camp if he or she is sick?

No. Your child should stay home to rest and to avoid giving the flu to other children or caregivers.

When can my child go back to school after having the flu?

Keep your child home from school, day care or camp for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) A fever is defined as 100°F (37.8°C) or higher.