The Yucky Virus Season

By Megan Pinson

Cooler weather, falling leaves, football games – Fall is almost here!  Autumn is my favorite season and I look forward to it all year.   What I don’t look forward to (and I don’t think I’m alone here) is the arrival of flu season.  My son is 10-months old and all the media coverage of Swine Flu (H1N1) has me feeling a little uneasy.  In addition to H1N1, I am also concerned about the seasonal flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).  Before I became a parent, flu season was not something I worried about.  I would get my flu shot and consider myself “prepared” for the season. 

Now my perspective has changed.  I have a little boy who is completely dependent on me to keep him safe and protected from everything, including yucky viruses.  So, what’s a mother to do?  Well, here are some recommendations for protecting your child from H1N1, and the seasonal flu, from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

• Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also work well.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow.
• Alternatively, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Stay at least six feet away from people who are sick. Avoid crowds. This will limit the spread of illness.
• Stay home when sick to keep from spreading illness.
• Children and adults who are sick should stay home at least 24 hours after they are free from fever (100°F) or signs of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• Seek medical care if you are severely ill, such as having trouble breathing. Antiviral medicines may help.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following groups receive the H1N1 vaccine once it becomes available:

• Pregnant women
• Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age 
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with a higher risk of medical complications from influenza

It is important to note that healthy adults can spread the virus one day before getting symptoms and up to five days after getting sick.  According to the CDC, the best protection against the flu is the flu vaccine.  Getting a flu shot is not fun, but I think getting the flu is much worse.  My husband, my son, and I have already received our seasonal flu shots.  We will be lining up for the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it becomes available too.

Seasonal flu and H1N1 symptoms are very similar.  They include: fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, muscle aches, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Influenza is not the only widespread virus parents need to be aware of this time of year.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, RSV infects almost all babies before they turn two years of age.  Most healthy babies have only mild symptoms, similar to a cold.  However, for babies with underdeveloped lungs due to extreme prematurity (they were born before 32 weeks), severe heart disease, or severe lung disease, the symptoms can be dangerous.  Here are some steps you can take to prevent your baby from contracting RSV:

• Make sure everyone washes their hands before touching your baby.
• Keep your baby away from anyone who has a cold, fever, or runny nose.
• Keep your baby away from crowded areas like shopping malls.
• Keep your baby away from tobacco smoke. Parents should not expose their infants and young children to secondhand tobacco smoke, which increases the risk of and complications from severe viral respiratory infections.
• For high-risk infants, participation in child care should be restricted during RSV season whenever possible.
• All high-risk infants and their contacts should be immunized against influenza beginning at 6 months of age.

Staying healthy this time of year can be challenging for parents and babies.  For more information on flu and RSV prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org) and the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) are great resources.   If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s health, you should contact your pediatrician’s office.  I hope you (and your family) have a happy and healthy Fall!

Reference Sources: 

American Academy of Pediatrics, http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_RSV.htm]

American Academy of Pediatrics, http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/swineflu.htm]

Centers for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/key_facts.htm]

Centers for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm]