Flu in babies
The flu is a winter illness that affects around 2 to 7 million people in France, including one in three children.
In infants (up to 1 year), the infection is asymptomatic in 45% of cases. The fever is absent or not very high. Pharyngitis is more common. However, during the first three months of life, your baby may have a temperature of over 39 ° C, with symptoms similar to those of bronchiolitis.
Between 1 and 4 years, the particular symptoms are often non-respiratory: drowsiness in the majority of cases and gastrointestinal disturbances.
Flu symptoms
The flu virus in babies can be dangerous, sometimes causing severe breathing difficulties.
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Aches
- Frissons
- Headaches
- Drowsiness
- nausea
- Dry cough, stuffy or runny nose
- A characteristic fever curve, the “influenza V”: it falls to rise again after a few days
- Vomiting and diarrhea
Symptoms often differ depending on the age of the child.
Complications of influenza in children
In infants and young children, there can be complications. They can be major, resulting in numerous hospitalizations each year.
The flu can take serious forms such as secondary infection pneumonia, or make an episode of asthma worse.
Another common complication: acute otitis media.
Flu treatment
Treatment of flu-like symptoms is above all to bring down the temperature and avoid dehydration.
The doctor, for his part, prescribes the drugs necessary to fight the fever, the possible pains (head, muscles), generally, paracetamol.
In case of superinfection (otitis, bronchopulmonary infection), an antibiotic may be prescribed.
Should babies be vaccinated against the flu?
As a preventive measure, to avoid influenza, the vaccine is not indicated collectively for all children. On the other hand, it is recommended from the age of six months, in the event of frailty linked to a particular disease (heart disease, asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, etc.). Talk to your doctor.