Swine Flu H1N1 Children
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H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) and Children
Swine influenza is a type of flu. Like any flu, it mainly affects the lungs. Swine flu is caused by the influenza A (H1N1) virus. This germ usually infects pigs. The virus has now spread to humans and is easily passed from one person to another. This sheet answers some questions you may have about H1N1 flu.
How Does H1N1 Flu Spread?
The H1N1 flu virus can spread from infected pigs to humans that come in contact with them. The virus can then be passed among children or adults the same way the regular flu spreads—through the air in droplets when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes, laughs, or talks. A child or adult can also become infected after touching a contaminated surface then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. Note: H1N1 is not caused by eating pork or pork products. Eating pork and pork products that have been properly handled and cooked is safe.
What Are the Symptoms of H1N1 Flu?
H1N1 flu symptoms are about the same as regular flu symptoms. A child may have:
-
Fever, usually higher than 100°F, and chills
-
Headache
-
Body and muscle aches
-
Sore throat
-
Dry cough
-
Tiredness and weakness
-
In some cases, diarrhea, or vomiting
Call the child’s healthcare provider for advice if any of the above symptoms are severe. If H1N1 flu is in your area, the healthcare provider may have the child tested.
How Is H1N1 Flu Treated?
If H1N1 flu is in your area and the child’s symptoms are severe, the child’s healthcare provider may prescribe medications called antivirals. These must be taken within 2 days of when the child’s symptoms started. Antivirals work by stopping the H1N1 virus from reproducing in the body. This gives the body’s immune system a chance to fight the virus. After taking the medication, the child’s symptoms may be milder and he or she may recover quicker than without the medication. The medication may also prevent serious complications such as pneumonia. Be sure to give ALL of the medication as prescribed until it is gone, even if your child feels better. If the child’s symptoms are mild or it has been more than 2 days since the symptoms started, the doctor will likely not prescribe antiviral medications. Instead, the comfort measures listed below are used. Note that antibiotics are NOT helpful against influenza.
Easing Your Child’s Symptoms
-
Give your child plenty of fluids such as water, juice, and warm soup to prevent dehydration.
-
Have your child sleep and rest quietly as much as possible.
-
Ask your child’s healthcare provider whether it is okay to give your child acetaminophen or other medications for fever and pain. Give these medications to your child as directed. Do not give aspirin to any child under age 18 who is ill with a fever. It can cause a rare but serious illness that leads to liver damage.
When to Call the Doctor:
Call your child’s doctor right away if your child has any of the following:
-
Symptoms that get better, then return with a fever and worse cough
-
Fever over 100°F
-
Fever with a rash
-
Trouble breathing or fast breathing
-
Blue skin or lips
-
Extreme sleepiness or not interacting
-
Refusal to feed or drink fluids
-
Severe or repeated vomiting or inability to keep fluids down
-
In infants, not wanting to be held
Taking Steps to Protect Yourself and Others
When caring for a child with influenza, take these steps to help keep the illness from spreading to yourself or others:
-
Wash your hands often. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible. Instruct family members to do the same.
-
If soap and water isn’t available, hands can be cleaned with an alcohol-based hand gel containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
-
Teach your child to wash his or her hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing.
-
Have your child cough or sneeze into a tissue. Then throw the tissue away and wash your hands. Teach an older child who doesn’t have a tissue to cough or sneeze into the crook of the elbow.
-
Keep your child home for at least 24 hours after he or she no longer has a fever or fever symptoms (such as chills). Be sure that the fever isn’t being hidden by fever-reducing medications (such as ibuprofen).
-
Don’t allow your child to share food, utensils, drinking glasses, or a toothbrush with others.
-
Ask your doctor whether you or others in your household should receive antiviral medication to help avoid infection.
How Can H1N1 Flu Be Prevented?
An H1N1 vaccine is scheduled to be available in October. Talk to your child’s doctor. Here are other things you and your child can do to avoid becoming infected:
-
Wash your hands often and have your child wash often. Frequent handwashing is a proven way to prevent infection.
-
Carry an alcohol-based hand gel containing at least 60 percent alcohol. Use it when you don’t have access to soap and water. Alcohol gels kill most germs and are safe for children.
-
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
-
At home and work, clean phones, computer keyboards, and toys often with alcohol wipes.
-
If possible, avoid close contact with others, especially if H1N1 flu cases have been identified in the area where you live.
-
A medical facemask worn over the mouth and nose may help protect against getting H1N1 flu. The facemask may protect you from breathing in the virus. You still need to follow the measures listed above to lessen your chance of getting the H1N1 flu.
-
You and your child should still get the regular flu vaccine every year. Your healthcare provider can answer any questions you have about this.
Tips for Handwashing
Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu and other common infections. Follow these steps:
-
Use warm water and plenty of soap. Work up a good lather.
-
Clean the whole hand, under your nails, between your fingers, and up the wrists.
-
Wash for at least 15 seconds. Don’t just wipe—scrub well.
-
Rinse, letting the water run down your fingers, not up your wrists.
-
Dry your hands well. Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.
Tips for Using Alcohol-Based Hand Gels
Alcohol-based hand gels are also a good choice for cleaning your hands. Use them when you don’t have access to soap and water, or your hands aren’t visibly dirty. Follow these steps:
-
Squeeze about a tablespoon of gel into the palm of one hand.
-
Rub your hands together briskly, cleaning the backs of your hands, the palms, between your fingers, and up the wrists.
-
Rub until the gel is gone and your hands are completely dry.
To Learn More about H1N1 Flu
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/swineflu_you.htm
Date Last Reviewed:
Date Last Modified: 2009-09-24T00:00:00-06:00
H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) and Children
Swine influenza is a type of flu. Like any flu, it mainly affects the lungs. Swine flu is caused by the influenza A (H1N1) virus. This germ usually infects pigs. The virus has now spread to humans and is easily passed from one person to another. This sheet answers some questions you may have about H1N1 flu.
How Does H1N1 Flu Spread?
The H1N1 flu virus can spread from infected pigs to humans that come in contact with them. The virus can then be passed among children or adults the same way the regular flu spreads—through the air in droplets when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes, laughs, or talks. A child or adult can also become infected after touching a contaminated surface then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. Note: H1N1 is not caused by eating pork or pork products. Eating pork and pork products that have been properly handled and cooked is safe.
What Are the Symptoms of H1N1 Flu?
H1N1 flu symptoms are about the same as regular flu symptoms. A child may have:
-
Fever, usually higher than 100°F, and chills
-
Headache
-
Body and muscle aches
-
Sore throat
-
Dry cough
-
Tiredness and weakness
-
In some cases, diarrhea, or vomiting
Call the child’s healthcare provider for advice if any of the above symptoms are severe. If H1N1 flu is in your area, the healthcare provider may have the child tested.
How Is H1N1 Flu Treated?
If H1N1 flu is in your area and the child’s symptoms are severe, the child’s healthcare provider may prescribe medications called antivirals. These must be taken within 2 days of when the child’s symptoms started. Antivirals work by stopping the H1N1 virus from reproducing in the body. This gives the body’s immune system a chance to fight the virus. After taking the medication, the child’s symptoms may be milder and he or she may recover quicker than without the medication. The medication may also prevent serious complications such as pneumonia. Be sure to give ALL of the medication as prescribed until it is gone, even if your child feels better. If the child’s symptoms are mild or it has been more than 2 days since the symptoms started, the doctor will likely not prescribe antiviral medications. Instead, the comfort measures listed below are used. Note that antibiotics are NOT helpful against influenza.
Easing Your Child’s Symptoms
-
Give your child plenty of fluids such as water, juice, and warm soup to prevent dehydration.
-
Have your child sleep and rest quietly as much as possible.
-
Ask your child’s healthcare provider whether it is okay to give your child acetaminophen or other medications for fever and pain. Give these medications to your child as directed. Do not give aspirin to any child under age 18 who is ill with a fever. It can cause a rare but serious illness that leads to liver damage.
When to Call the Doctor:
Call your child’s doctor right away if your child has any of the following:
-
Symptoms that get better, then return with a fever and worse cough
-
Fever over 100°F
-
Fever with a rash
-
Trouble breathing or fast breathing
-
Blue skin or lips
-
Extreme sleepiness or not interacting
-
Refusal to feed or drink fluids
-
Severe or repeated vomiting or inability to keep fluids down
-
In infants, not wanting to be held
Taking Steps to Protect Yourself and Others
When caring for a child with influenza, take these steps to help keep the illness from spreading to yourself or others:
-
Wash your hands often. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible. Instruct family members to do the same.
-
If soap and water isn’t available, hands can be cleaned with an alcohol-based hand gel containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
-
Teach your child to wash his or her hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing.
-
Have your child cough or sneeze into a tissue. Then throw the tissue away and wash your hands. Teach an older child who doesn’t have a tissue to cough or sneeze into the crook of the elbow.
-
Keep your child home for at least 24 hours after he or she no longer has a fever or fever symptoms (such as chills). Be sure that the fever isn’t being hidden by fever-reducing medications (such as ibuprofen).
-
Don’t allow your child to share food, utensils, drinking glasses, or a toothbrush with others.
-
Ask your doctor whether you or others in your household should receive antiviral medication to help avoid infection.
How Can H1N1 Flu Be Prevented?
An H1N1 vaccine is scheduled to be available in October. Talk to your child’s doctor. Here are other things you and your child can do to avoid becoming infected:
-
Wash your hands often and have your child wash often. Frequent handwashing is a proven way to prevent infection.
-
Carry an alcohol-based hand gel containing at least 60 percent alcohol. Use it when you don’t have access to soap and water. Alcohol gels kill most germs and are safe for children.
-
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
-
At home and work, clean phones, computer keyboards, and toys often with alcohol wipes.
-
If possible, avoid close contact with others, especially if H1N1 flu cases have been identified in the area where you live.
-
A medical facemask worn over the mouth and nose may help protect against getting H1N1 flu. The facemask may protect you from breathing in the virus. You still need to follow the measures listed above to lessen your chance of getting the H1N1 flu.
-
You and your child should still get the regular flu vaccine every year. Your healthcare provider can answer any questions you have about this.
Tips for Handwashing
Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu and other common infections. Follow these steps:
-
Use warm water and plenty of soap. Work up a good lather.
-
Clean the whole hand, under your nails, between your fingers, and up the wrists.
-
Wash for at least 15 seconds. Don’t just wipe—scrub well.
-
Rinse, letting the water run down your fingers, not up your wrists.
-
Dry your hands well. Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.
Tips for Using Alcohol-Based Hand Gels
Alcohol-based hand gels are also a good choice for cleaning your hands. Use them when you don’t have access to soap and water, or your hands aren’t visibly dirty. Follow these steps:
-
Squeeze about a tablespoon of gel into the palm of one hand.
-
Rub your hands together briskly, cleaning the backs of your hands, the palms, between your fingers, and up the wrists.
-
Rub until the gel is gone and your hands are completely dry.
To Learn More about H1N1 Flu
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/swineflu_you.htm
Date Last Reviewed:
Date Last Modified: 2009-09-24T00:00:00-06:00