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Frequently asked questions: Influenza (flu) information for parents
Seasonal influenza 2017/2018
Version 1.5 26/07/2017
The following advice is for parents of children in all educational institutions,including crèches, childcare, schools, and third level institutions. Unlessotherwise mentioned ‘educational institution’ applies to all of the above.
We are now experiencing our annual flu season and influenza A and B arecirculating in the community.
Is influenza dangerous?
Most people infected with the influenza virus have a mild to moderate illness, but some have more severe illness.
What are the symptoms of influenza?
The symptoms of flu include:
Temperature 38 oC/100 oF or over that begins suddenly and some of the following:
o Dry cough
o Sore throat
o Muscle aches and pains
o Headache
o Runny nose
o Severe weakness and fatigue
o Vomiting/diarrhoea (in some cases)
What are the differences between influenza and the common cold?
It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between the common cold and flu.
The main difference is that the symptoms of influenza come on rapidly and are typically accompanied by muscle aches and a fever. The common cold has a more gradual onset and is associated with a runny nose and sneezing.
For a full list of differences between influenza and the common cold, please
see the table below.
Symptoms ` Influenza Common Cold
Onset Sudden Slow
Fever Characteristically High Rare
(≥38oC or 100oF)
Headache Prominent Rare
General aches &pains Usual, often severe Rare
Fatigue,weakness Can be prolonged for a Quite mild
number of weeks
Extreme exhaustion Early and prominent Never
Runny nose Common Common
Sneezing Common Usual
Sore throat Common Common
Cough Common, can be severe Mild to moderate,
hackingcough
Diarrhoea, vomiting Sometimes Not associated with
the common cold in
adults
How does influenza spread?
Flu virus spreads from person to person mainly through the coughing or sneezing of a sick person. Flu virus may also be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with the virus (for example a tissue or door handle touched by the infected person) and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
What should I do as a parent?
Two important actions to protect your family
- Be aware of the symptoms of flu-like illness and know where to seek medical care. See below.
- Teach your children the following good health habits to help stop the spread of germs:
- Teach your children to cover their mouth and nose with a paper tissue when coughing or sneezing. If no tissue is available they should cough or sneeze into the inside of their elbow. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
- Teach your children to use a tissue only once and dispose of itquickly and carefully (a dustbin is fine).
- Teach your children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself. If they do not have access to hand washing facilities give them alcohol hand gel to use.
- Teach your children to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth.
- Teach your children to stay at least 1 metre/3 feet away from people who are sick.
- Children who are sick should always stay home from the school. If they have influenza they should stay away from the educational institution for 5 days from the onset of symptoms.
- Wash hard surfaces such as kitchen worktops, door handles, etc
- with a normal household cleaner as the virus can live on these
- Do this frequently.
What should I do if my child gets sick?
If your child gets sick with a flu-like illness as described above you should:
- Keep your child at home and away from others as much as is possible to avoid spreading infection to others. If they are sick with flu they should stay home for 5 days from the onset of symptoms.
- Give your child simple anti-fever medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (NB: aspirin should NOT be given to children under 16 years of age) and ensure that they drink plenty of fluids.
- If you think your child needs to see the GP because they have severe
- symptoms, remember to ring your GP first.
- If your child is in a high risk group for complications of flu contact you GP, even if their symptoms are mild (High risk groups include people with: chronic lung, heart, kidney, liver, or neurological disease; immunosuppression ( i.e. weakened immune system whether caused by disease or treatment); diabetes mellitus; people aged 65 years and older; children less than 2 years of age; children with any condition (e.g. spinal cord injury, seizure disorder or other neuromuscular disorder) that can compromise lung function, especially those attending special schools/day centres, children with Down syndrome, people on medication for asthma, severely obese people (BMI ≥40), pregnant women and people with haemoglobinopathies)
- Teach your child good health habits, as above.
- Ensure that all household surfaces that are touched by hands are kept clean, especially bedside tables, surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens and children’s toys. Such surfaces should be wiped regularly with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
Should educational institutions be doing anything to prevent the spread
of influenza?
Yes, like parents, educational institutions should encourage and facilitate everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like flu including:
- Children should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. If no tissue is available they should cough or sneeze into the inside of their elbow. Children should use a tissue only once and dispose of it quickly and carefully (a bin is fine). This is known as respiratory etiquette.
- Children should wash their hands frequently with soap and water. Where soap and water is not readily available alcohol based hand gel can be used.
- Children should avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth.
- Wash hard surfaces such as kitchen worktops, door handles, etc frequently with a normal household cleaner as the virus can live on
Educational institutions should put up posters on respiratory etiquette and
hand hygiene and ensure that children have access to suitable hand washing
facilities. Posters can be found on the HPSC website as indicated below.
Is there a vaccine against seasonal influenza?
A vaccine is an injection which prevents a person getting a particular disease.
It works by strengthening the body’s immune system. The vaccine must be
given before the person is infected with the disease.
Vaccination is recommended for people at high risk of complications.
Who are the high risk groups that should receive seasonal influenza
vaccine?
- Those aged 65 years or older.
- Adults and children over 6 months of age with chronic illness requiring regular medical follow-up e.g. chronic heart disease, chronic liver disease, chronic neurological disease (including multiple sclerosis and hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system), chronic renal failure chronic respiratory disease ( including cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia), diabetes mellitus, haemoglobinopathies
- Those with immunosuppression (weakened immune system) due to
disease or treatment, including asplenia (no spleen) or splenic
dysfunction.
- Those with any condition that can compromise lung function (e.g. spinal cord injury, seizure disorder, or other neuromuscular disorder) especially those attending special schools/day centres.
- Those with Down syndrome.
- Children with moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and intellectual disability.
- Children on long-term aspirin therapy (because of the risk of Reyes syndrome).
- Those with morbid obesity i.e. Body mass index ≥40.
9 Residents of nursing homes, old people’s homes, and other long stay facilities where rapid spread is likely to follow introduction of infection
- Those likely to transmit influenza to a person at high risk for influenza complications (see 1 above)
- Health Care Workers, both for their own protection and for the protection of patients who may have a suboptimal response to influenza vaccinations
- Household contacts of at-risk persons.
- Out-of-home care givers to at-risk persons.
- All pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy.
12 Those who have close, regular contact with pigs, poultry or water fowl.
Are there medicines to treat influenza?
Yes, there are medicines known as anti-virals that can be used to treat flu. However, as most cases of influenza will be mild, anti-viral treatment will only be necessary in a small proportion of cases. Doctors will assess each case but the following groups are the ones most likely to require treatment with anti-virals:
- Patients who appear to have severe symptoms or
- Patients who are in defined high risk groups as above.
Further information
Posters:
http://www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/Gastroenteric/Handwashing/PostersVideos/
http://www.hpsc.ie/AZ/Respiratory/Influenza/SeasonalInfluenza/Infectioncontroladvice/
Guidance on seasonal influenza:
http://www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/Respiratory/Influenza/SeasonalInfluenza/
Guidance on influenza vaccination
http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/immunisationguidelines