It is once more that time of year: flu season. Millions of people gather in the fall each year to be ready for the yearly start of influenza outbreaks. The season brings with it a deluge of visits from anxious parents with sick children to, at best, physicians' offices and, at worst, hospital emergency departments. You want to be ready now that you have a baby.
how do you keep your new baby healthy this winter?
Although your baby cannot be immunized, there are certain common sense precautions you can take to keep him healthy throughout flu season.
What is the flu?
The influenza virus is a group of viruses that produce a common respiratory illness known as the flu, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. It affects five to twenty percent of Americans annually on average, with symptoms ranging from headache, fever, sore throat, runny nose, and muscle aches to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The sickness can lead to complications such as sinus infections, ear infections, pneumonia caused by germs, dehydration, and exacerbation of preexisting medical issues.
People with long-term medical issues, the elderly, and small children are more vulnerable to severe flu-related consequences.
How do I avoid getting the flu?
The best method to prevent contracting the flu, according to the CDC, is to get vaccinated. You can still receive a flu vaccination into December, but it is best to obtain one in October or November if at all possible.
Vaccinations are recommended for parents, siblings, and caregivers of young children. In 2006, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its advice to include vaccinations against the flu for kids as young as six months old and as old as five years old. Additionally, the CDC advises pregnant women to get vaccinated. According to studies, immunizing mothers may protect shield young children from contracting the flu.
Regardless of whether you received the vaccination during your pregnancy or not, your unborn child cannot contract the flu if he does not come into touch with the virus, even though he is too young to safely receive the shot.
Additional easy precautions include covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, often washing your hands with soap and water, avoiding direct contact with ill people, and avoiding busy public areas with your kid. Stay vigilant and take appropriate action as the flu is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets from infected individuals, mainly through coughing and sneezing.
What to do if you or your baby get sick?
Minimize your interaction with your baby as much as possible if you suspect you have the flu. Stay hydrated and get plenty of rest. As needed, take medication to lower your fever, and if things get worse, call your doctor. Make sure your infant keeps nursing frequently in case of illness to avoid dehydration. If your baby appears less attentive than normal, is having difficulty breathing, is not eating enough, or if his rectal temperature increases above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, call your pediatrician right away.
Influenza is a major worry, particularly for new parents. However, there are easy, common sense ways to keep your infant healthy all through flu season.