Flu season is here, and it's a bad one. With so many people ending up in the hospital with flu-related symptoms, it's important that you keep an eye on your child. The most important thing you can do for your child is to ensure that they have their flu shot.
Flu season may be at its peak right now but that doesn't mean the threat is over. In fact, there are still quite a few weeks left in this flu season. Even if your child has received the flu shot, you still need to be aware of flu-related symptoms. If your child does come down with the flu, in most cases it will pass in a few days. However, there is still a slight chance that your child will develop severe symptoms that will require medical attention. Here are three signs you should watch out for. If your child develops any of these signs, you should visit an urgent care center, like Meadowbrook Urgent Care, as soon as possible.
Severe Headache
Mild headaches can be quite common with the flu. However, you should be able to alleviate the discomfort with over-the-counter children's pain medication. If your child develops a headache and the pain does not go away with treatment or becomes so severe that the pain is intolerable, you need to get to the urgent care. You should also get to the urgent care center if your child develops a stiff neck.
Rapid Breathing
If your child is suffering from congestion, they may have a difficult time breathing clearly. Try using a humidifier in the room to help break up the mucus so that your child can breathe easier. If your child continues to have a difficult time breathing, they develop a rapid heart rate, or their breathing becomes accelerated, it's time to get to the urgent care. This is particularly important if their lips appear to be tinging to a bluish shade when they're breathing. This is a sign that they're not getting enough oxygen.
Refusal to Drink Fluids
It's common for children to lose their appetite when they're sick. Try offering them small bites of soft foods that they can nibble at. However, if your child is refusing to accept all liquids, you'll need to keep an eye on them. If their refusal continues for more than a few hours, you'll need to visit the urgent care. Children can become dehydrated very quickly when they're suffering from the flu, especially if they're running a fever.
Don't take chances with the flu this season. If your child exhibits any of the signs described above, contact your doctor and get to an urgent care center.
Share