WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF COLD AND FLU FOR CHILDREN IN OUR CARE?

Frequent signs and symptoms of contagious illness include: runny nose, irritability, excessive crying, fever, cramps, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, headache, muscle aches and pains, rash, cough, sore throat, thick secretions (with color), drowsiness, loss of appetite, earache, general feeling of weakness and fatigue.

The average adult gets 1-3 respiratory (breathing) illnesses each year.  Children get even more!  However, it would be unusual to get the flu more than once a year.

a. Colds: Colds arerespiratory (breathing) illnesses caused by viruses.  Colds tend to start gradually and with milder symptomssuch as: 

• Sneezing
• Runny nose   
• Congestion   
• Slight cough   
• Mild sore throat

Your temperature is normal or mildly elevated and your energy level is often not significantly affected.

• Teach children to blow their noses with disposable tissues. Only use a tissue once, then throw it away. To cover their mouth using their arm when they cough.   

• Do not allow children to share toys that they put in their mouth.  Wash and disinfect these toys before allowing children to play with them again.    

b. Flu: ​Influenza is a respiratory (breathing) illnesses caused by viruses. The Flu hits hard and fast, often beginning with a headache progressing to fever over 100 degrees F with muscle aches, chills, sweats, dry cough, and extreme weakness in the first 24 hours.  Children under 5 years of age may experience vomiting and diarrhea.  Most people feel better in 2-7 days, but coughs and fatigue can last a couple of weeks.

Many people use the term "stomach flu" to describe illnesses with nausea, vomiting, and or diarrhea that are not caused by the flu virus, but can be caused by many different viruses, bacteria, or even parasites.  However, while vomiting, diarrhea, and being "sick to your stomach" can sometimes be related to the flu, particularly in children, these problems are rarely the main symptoms of influenza.  The flu is a respiratory disease and not a stomach or intestinal disease.

For more information, try our online classes Common Illnesses: What to Do!