Flu

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Thinking flu?

Flu can be dangerous in a child. Let's see what to do.
Pharmacist

How do you know your child has the flu anyway? Could it be a cold? what about strep throat, sinusitis and other respiratory illness?



Mother checking child temperature

That's what we will tackle before you see what a pharmacist recommend you do or give your child over-the-counter.

We will figure out the best course of action to take.

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It is very difficult to distinguish between a cold and a flu. The flu can be dangerous for children. The CDC estimates that each year about 20,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized from flu complications, like pneumonia.

FYI Continue

 

 

 

Flu

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Need ER visit?

Let's rule out emergency warning signs of flu illness.
Pharmacist

We will use the centers for disease control (CDC) criteria.

 

Is this child breathing very fast?
Pharmacist

Child short on breath

 

Yes?

 

What about shortness of breath?
Pharmacist

boy with shortness of breath

 

Go to the Emergency Room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Emergency warning sign of the flu.

Seek urgent care

Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.

Nearest ER

 

Is the skin color grayish looking?
Pharmacist

Father with sick child

 

Yes?

 

Is it bluish looking?
Pharmacist

Father with sick child

 

Go to the Emergency Room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Emergency warning sign of the flu.

Seek urgent care

Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.

Nearest ER

 

Are the lips or face turning blue?
Pharmacist

Mother looking at child

 

Go to the Emergency Room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Emergency warning sign of the flu.

Seek urgent care

Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.

Nearest ER

 

Does the child have rash along with fever?

With other suspected flu symptoms?
Pharmacist


Child with bare back

 

Go to the Emergency Room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Emergency warning sign of flu illness.

Seek urgent care

Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.

Nearest ER

 

Is the child vomiting or looking dehydrated?

Along with having a fever?
Pharmacist


Girl feeling nausea

 

Go to the Emergency Room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • According to the CDC, these are emergency warning signs of flu sickness.
  • If the child has a fever and/or cough, then you need to start moving.

Seek urgent care

Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.

Nearest ER

 


Those were emergency warning signs of flu sickness.
Pharmacist

If these apply to your child, you should start going to the emergency room.

If not, let's continue and see if you still need to take the child to the emergency room by looking at other symptoms.

 

Yes?

 

Once again, is the child experiencing any fever?
Pharmacist

Hand holding thermometer

No fever

 

Yes?

 

Yes?
Do you know the body temperature?
Pharmacist

If not, you can quickly follow the steps to get the temperature.

Do not try to estimate the temperature.

Yes No

 

 

 

 

 

Flu

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No fever

Hmmm. May not be looking at a flu illness.
Pharmacist

Would you like to seek urgent care, visit the cold section or continue assuming your child is looking at fever.

Urgent Care Continue

 

 

 

Flu

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Use the slider below to tell us the temperature you have in °F.
Pharmacist

Tap on "FYI" to convert from °C to °F if you need to.



FYI


Pharmacist

Very low temperature.

Are you sure your child is running a temperature?

Would you like to continue or you can go back and use the slider to tell us the temperature again.

Continue

 

Normal range or low grade.

Continue

 

Temperature is getting high

The first symptoms of a flu is usually a fever between 102 and 106°F

 

Continue

 

Go to the emergency room.

Especially if the child also has severe body ache and headache.

You should only Continue if the temperature is coming down and you are convinced an emergency room visit is not needed.

Nearest ER Continue

 

 

 

 

Flu

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Temperature

Let's take the temperature using a thermometer.
Pharmacist

If your child is:

  • under 3 months old:
    Underarm preferred for screening

  • 3 months to 5 years:
    Rectal preferred. If not, underarm is adequate.

  • Over 5 years:
    Oral is preferred.

With this in mind, take the temperature by tapping on your preferred method below and following the directions.

Rectal

Taking rectal temperatures

  1. Get some petroleum jelly or vaseline

  2. Sit down and have your child lie down on your lap.

  3. Apply some petroleum jelly on the shining end of the thermometer

  4. Apply some petroleum jelly on the anal opening

  5. Gently slide the thermometer into the anus until the silver tip disappears.

  6. Go a little bit further in if the child is more than 6 months old.

  7. Leave the thermometer in for about 20 seconds or until you hear a beep (if applicable) while holding your child still.

  8. When you get a reading let's continue.

Continue

 

Oral

Using oral thermometers

  1. Wash the thermometer. No cold or hot drinks in the past 30 minutes

  2. Have child open the mouth and lift up the tongue

  3. Place thermometer under a side of the tongue and toward the back

  4. Using the lips and not the teeth, have child hold the thermometer in place until there is a beep, for about 30 secs or per manufacturer's instruction.

  5. When you get a reading let's continue.

Continue

 

Underarm

Taking temperatures under the arm

  1. Dry the armpit with a towel.

  2. Place the tip of the thermometer in the armpit.

  3. Make sure the tip of the thermometer is covered with the armpit.

  4. Hold the elbow against the chest until there is a beep or per manufacturer's instruction.

  5. When you get a reading let's continue:

Continue

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flu

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How bad is it?

With fever, you still need to rule out emergency room visit.
Pharmacist

 

Is the child highly irritable and restless?
Pharmacist

Somber looking child

 

Yes?

 

 

Would you say the child doesn't want to be held?
Pharmacist

Mother with a crying child

 

Yes?

Go to the emergency room

 

Is the child having difficulty staying awake with this fever?
Pharmacist

Mother with sleeping child

 

Go to the Emergency Room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Need to rule out possible dehydration.
  • Especially if child is not drinking fluids.

Seek urgent care

Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.

Nearest ER

 

Is the child experiencing a stiff neck?
Pharmacist

Girl holding her neck

 

Yes?
Let's rule out meningitis or encephalitis.
Pharmacist

Continue

 


Complications can be dangerous with the flu.
Pharmacist

If you are suspecting the flu, it is important your child seek urgent or emergency care if the risk of complications developing from having the flu is high.

Let's rule this out.

Continue

 

 

 

 

Flu

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Meningitis?

Is the child getting very sensitive to light?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
This is a symptom of meningitis.
Pharmacist

But don't panic yet. Let's continue.

 

What about a severe headache with this stiff neck?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
This is a symptom of meningitis.
Pharmacist

Symptoms of meningitis include:

  • Fever and chills
  • Stiff neck
  • Increased sensitivity to light
  • Severe headache

 

Is the child breathing rapidly with this stiff neck?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
This is symptom of meningitis.
Pharmacist

Symptoms of meningitis include:

  • Fever and chills
  • Stiff neck
  • Increased sensitivity to light
  • Severe headache
  • Rapid breathing

 

What about nausea and vomiting with this stiff neck?
Pharmacist

 

Go to the emergency room.
Pharmacist

Symptoms of meningitis include:

  • Fever and chills
  • Stiff neck
  • Increased sensitivity to light
  • Severe headache
  • Rapid breathing
  • Nausea and vomiting

Nearest ER

 

Any unusual posture, with the head and neck arched backwards?
Pharmacist

 

Go to the emergency room.
Pharmacist

Symptoms of meningitis include:

  • Fever and chills
  • Stiff neck
  • Increased sensitivity to light
  • Severe headache
  • Rapid breathing
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Unusual posture, with the head and neck arched backwards

Nearest ER

 


Those were symptoms of meningitis which can be deadly.
Pharmacist

If the child's neck is so stiff that he or she cannot touch the chin to the chest, then start heading to the emergency room.

Early treatment is key to a good outcome with meningitis.

 

Yes?

 

Next is to make sure the risk of complications from the flu is not high.
Pharmacist

If you are suspecting the flu, it is important your child seek urgent or emergency care if the risk of complications developing from having the flu is high.

Let's rule this out.

Continue

 

 

 

 

Flu

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Risk of complications?

Is the child asthmatic?
Pharmacist

Girl using inhaler

 

Seek urgent care or call the pediatrician.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Risk of complication is high.

Nearest Clinic

 

What about a chronic lung disease?

Does the child have one?
Pharmacist


image of the lungs

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Risk of complication is high

Nearest ER

 

Any kidney, liver or heart disorder?

Or any metabolic disorder?
Pharmacist


Heart beat illustration

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Risk of complications is high.

Nearest ER

 

Is this child diabetic?
Pharmacist

Diabetic testing machine

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Risk of complications from the flu is high.

Nearest ER

 

Does the child have a weakened immune system?
Pharmacist

somber looking child

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Risk of complications is very high.

Nearest ER

 

Is the child receiving long-term aspirin therapy?
Pharmacist

yyyy

 

Seek urgent care or Call the doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Risk of complication from the flu is very high.

Nearest ER

 

Did the child have a fever that went away..

..and now it is back?
Pharmacist


Mother testing child temperature

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • It has taken a sharp turn for the worse.
  • Must take it seriously.
  • Main cause of death from the flu in healthy children.

Nearest ER

 

What about a cough that left and came back again in a few days?
Pharmacist

Child coughing

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Looking at a possiblity of secondary bacteria pneumonia.

Nearest ER

 


Those questions checked the risk of having complications from the flu.
Pharmacist

It is possible for healthy kids to develop severe illness. So we are still concerned about having a severe flu with complications.

If you are convinced it is not an emergency situation, let's quickly go through the flu symptoms and see if your child has the flu in the first place.

Great

 

 

 

 

Flu

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Is it flu?

Assuming you're thinking flu because child has fever.
Pharmacist

If there is no fever or severe body aches, you would suspect cold symptoms.

Let's go through symptoms of flu illness and see if this is the case with your child.

 

Is the child's body aching in addition to the fever?
Pharmacist

Boy with aching body

 

Yes?
This happens with flu illness. The body will be aching all over.
Pharmacist

 

Does the child have a headache?
Pharmacist

Boy with headache

 

Yes?
Headache is a symptom of the flu illness.
Pharmacist

Flu symptoms include:

  • Body aching all over.
  • Headache

 

Is he or she experiencing a sore throat?
Pharmacist

Child with sorethroat

 

Yes?

Flu symptoms include:

  • Body aching all over.
  • Headache
  • Sore throat

 

Does the face look flushed?
Pharmacist

Checking child flu signs

 

Yes?

 

What about a dry cough?
Pharmacist

Girl with flu symptoms

 

Yes?

 

Is there a clear and watery runny nose?
Pharmacist

Girl with stuffy nose

 

Yes?
This is a late symptom of flu illness.
Pharmacist

Flu symptoms include:

  • Body aching all over.
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Flushed face.
  • Dry cough
  • Clear and watery runny nose

 

Is he or she throwing up?
Pharmacist

Girl with nausea

 

Yes?

Flu symptoms include:

  • Body aching all over.
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Flushed face.
  • Dry cough
  • Clear and watery runny nose
  • Vomiting

 

Is the child experiencing diarrhea?
Pharmacist

Boy with diarrhea

 

Yes?
Diarrhea is a flu symptom especially with children.
Pharmacist

Flu symptoms include:

  • Body aching all over.
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Flushed face.
  • Dry cough
  • Clear and watery runny nose
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

 

the first symptom of the flu is usually a fever between 102 and 106°F
Pharmacist

This fever may start very quickly, then body aches (especially in the back and legs), chills, headache.

After 2 to 3 days of having the flu, your child may start getting dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and sore throat.

If you've gotten here by clearly answering the questions we have asked so far, you should have an idea if your child is looking at flu illness or not.

If you think your child is looking at one, let's continue and see what a pharmacist recommend you do.

Or do you think you should see the nearest children's urgent care clinic to you from the discussions so far?

Nearest Clinic Pharmacist

 

 

 

 

Flu

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How old?

How old is your child in months?
Pharmacist


Mother and child with flu symptoms



Pharmacist

Less than 6 months?

Seek children's hospital emergency room.

 

 

6 months to 2 years?

Discuss complications

Would you like to Continue or visit the nearest children's urgent care clinic to you?

Nearest Clinic Continue

 

2 to 5 years?

Try sending to clinic, if not continue.

Nearest Clinic Continue

 

Over 5 years?

Try sending to clinic or continue if not.

Nearest Clinic Continue

 

 

 

 

Flu

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How many days now?

On what day is the flu illness?
From when symptoms first appeared.
Pharmacist

Just a reminder:
The flu usually start quickly and with a high fever.


Pharmacist

Less than 2 days?

See doctor for tamiflu.

Another reason for seeing the doctor is to get prescriptions for prophylaxis for the whole family.

Would you like to see the nearest children's urgent care clinic to you?

Or see what a pharmacist recommend you use over-the-counter to help until you can see a doctor?

Nearest Clinic Pharmacist

 

3 to 7 days?

Would you like to see the nearest children's urgent care clinic to you?

Or see what a pharmacist recommend you use over-the-counter to help until you can see a doctor?

Nearest Clinic Pharmacist

 

More than 7 days

Seek urgent care or doctor's office.

High risk of developing complications.

Would you like to see the nearest children's urgent care clinic to you?

Or see what a pharmacist recommend you use over-the-counter to help until you can see a doctor?

Nearest Clinic Pharmacist