Pediatric Influenza: How Children Are At High Risk
Seasonal influenza outbreaks are expected annually. Influenza infection can be serious for every one of us, but children are more vulnerable to the flu. Children younger than 5 years old, especially those younger than 2 years are at high risk of developing serious flu-related complications.
Child’s immune system is impuissant to influenza
For many young children, it could be the first time they are exposed to any virus. A child’s immune system is naive to influenza and might respond slowly to the infection. This means the influenza virus can cause significant illness before the immune system starts controlling the virus.
Types of Influenza viruses around the world.
Currently, three different influenza strains circulate worldwide, designated as A, B, and C.
Influenza types A and B — These 2 type of viruses are responsible for epidemics of respiratory illness. They often lead to more hospitalizations and people dying from the flu. Efforts to control the impact of flu is focused on types A and B virus. One of the reasons the influenza virus remains a problem is because of its changing strains. This means that every season adults and children are exposed to an updated virus.
Influenza type C — It usually causes very mild respiratory illness or no symptoms. It does not cause epidemics and also does not have the severe public health impact like influenza types A and B do.
How a child can get an Influenza infection from around the surroundings?
It’s easy for a child to pick up a flu virus form the surrounding because they often touch many surfaces and then their mouth, nose, or eyes.
(1) Child is unaware of personal hygiene and therefore a flu virus often passes from child to child through sneezing or coughing.
(2) The virus also haves the capability to live on a surface for a shorter time and therefore touching something like toys, phones, tablets, etc, that was touched by an infected person can also pass on the virus.
(3) Shared utensils for eating and drinking can also pass the virus to your child.
Some children are at high risk of getting influenza infection.
(1) Children younger than 6 months old
These children are too young to give a vaccine shot. These young to be vaccinated children (five months and younger) are protected from the flu by their mothers being vaccinated during pregnancy. The flu shot during pregnancy can protect the baby form the infection for several months after birth.
(2) Up to 5-year-old children
Flu-related hospitalizations among children younger than 5 year ranges high. Children in this age group who are otherwise healthy are at higher risk and to protect them from the infection, all children (6 months and older) should be vaccinated against flu each season.
(3) Influenza infection in children with chronic health problems
Children aged between 6 months to 18 years with the undermentioned chronic health problems are more likely to get infected from the flu.
(a) Asthma
(b) Chronic lung disease
© Hearth Disease
(d) Brain/Blood/Kidney/Liver/Endocrine Disorders
(e) Extreme obesity
Symptoms of influenza flu in children?
The flu is a respiratory disease, but a whole body can also suffer when a child has it. A child can become suddenly ill with any or all of these symptoms, However, each child may experience symptoms differently.:
(a) Fever, which may be as high as 103°F (39.4°C) to 105°F (40.5°C)
(b) Severe body aches and pain
© Sore throat
(d) Headache
(e) Cough that gets worse
(f) Tiredness
(g) Stuffy nose or clear nose
In some cases, your child may also have symptoms such as:
(a) Nausea
(b) Vomiting
© Diarrhea
In most cases, children recover from the flu within a week, but they may still feel very tired for as long as 3 to 4 weeks.
The symptoms of the influenza flu may also resemble cold, Always consult your child’s pediatric for a reasonable diagnosis.
Difference between the symptoms of cold and Influenza flu (Graphics)
What may seem like a cold, could be the flu. Be aware of these differences
How pediatricians can help you before your child gets infected?
A pediatrician manages the health of your child. They are having every record of your child’s physical, behavioral, and mental health issues. They are equipped with Pediatric EHR, which is a specialized information system that helps them to track immunization data which includes maintaining an inventory of separate vaccines, eligibility assessment and submitting this information as reports.
Health records bring convenient communication between pediatricians and parents, It helps you to get timely information and notification through patient portals, about the required diagnosis and vaccinations for your child. Transparent communication with your pediatrician can help your child stay protected from any of the infections.
How vaccination is the best protection against the Influenza flu?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone from
6 months of age and older must get a seasonal flu vaccine each year by the end of October. vaccination is the only effective way to get stay away from the illness. As the influenza virus gets updated strains every year, a new vaccine is introduced each September, to protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.
“The 2019-2020 vaccine has been updated from last season’s vaccine to better fight circulating viruses”Types of Influenza flu vaccines for children
(1) Injectable influenza vaccine (IIV) — It is given as an injection and is approved for use in people 6 months and older.
(2) Live inactivated influenza vaccine (LAIV) — It is given as a nasal spray and is approved for use in people 2 years to 49 years old. However, It is used for people with certain medical conditions.
Pediatric Influenza Vaccination: Special Vaccination instructions for children aged between 6 months to 8 years
Some children aged between 6 months to 8 years of age might require two doses of flu vaccine for adequate protection from influenza flu. Children who have got only one dose of vaccine early, and children who are about to get it for the first time, should get two doses of vaccine, spaced at least 4 weeks apart. Your child’s pediatric can inform you if your child needs two doses or not.
How pediatrician can update their health IT to prepare for the flu season
As a Pediatrician, you have to deal with children of all ages. Children require timely attention and regular diagnoses. Most importantly you have to treat and communicate to both different persons. You treat your little patient, but you communicate your treatment-related activities with their parents, and there comes a scope of good engagement.
All parents are over-protective about their children. Therefore you need to be in touch with them whenever they are in need, and it becomes easier with the help of patient portals and medical Electronic health records (EHRs). Here’s how
(a) EHR can help you set up automated flu shot reminders to the parents.
(b) EHRs can generate lists of patients in particular demographics (under 6 months or above 5 years) or children at higher risk.
© EHR allows practice staff to focus their outreach efforts on vaccination on children with higher risk.
EHR systems can also alert you when a patient has not yet received a flu shot. You can then follow-up and ensure if your patients are getting the right care at the right time or not.
Does your EHR generate flu shot reminders? How is your practice using health IT to prepare for the flu season? Share your stories in the comment box below. We would love to hear from you!
