Flu Season Has Arrived!
The 2023-2024 flu season has officially arrived! We at West End Pediatrics want to keep our patients happy,
healthy, and most definitely flu-free . With this in mind, here are some key facts on influenza prevention, detection, and treatment:
How do I prevent the flu?
- Get your flu shot as soon as possible! It takes the body 1-3 weeks to build an immune response, so get your flu shot as soon as you can.
- Wash your hands! Handwashing is crucial to avoid the flu. Soap and water is preferred, but alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
- Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs are spread by contact, so avoiding touching the face helps reduce the risk of transmission
- Practice healthy habits: keep your immune system strong by getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, drinking water and staying active.
Do I have the flu?
- Flu symptoms typically manifest suddenly; patients may feel some or all of the following symptoms:
- Fever or feverish with chills
- Runny nose/congestion
- Cough
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea (more common in children)
Testing and Treatment
- If you are experiencing symptoms of the flu, please schedule an appointment so we can test for the flu. We offer a rapid flu test, which is a nasal swab that takes about 20 minutes to complete.
- Tamiflu
- Certain populations who are at risk for complications from the flu require an antiviral medication called Tamiflu, which shortens the course of the flu
- Comfort care
- Rest and hydration are essential for a patient with the flu. Drink plenty of water or electrolyte-rich beverages and stay home to rest.
- Monitoring
- If the patient experiences any of the following, they should seek medical attention right away:
- Fever greater than 104F, fast or troubled breathing, ribs pulling in with each breath, chest pain, dehydration, not interacting when awake, fever in an infant less than 12 weeks, seizures, fever or cough that improves then worsens/returns
- This list is not all-inclusive. Please contact us if you have any questions
Is it a cold, COVID-19, or flu?
Given the similarity of symptoms, it can sometimes seem difficult to differentiate between flu, COVID-19, and common cold. With this in mind, we hope the following graphic from the CDC will be a helpful guide:
Hope you have a great rest of your week!
All the best,
Dr. Ariza, Elizabeth , Katie & the West End Peds Tea
