What are the symptoms of influenza A in children?

What should I do if my baby has influenza A? Mom, influenza A has begun to spread recently. Last year, we experienced the \”new crown\” without any danger. I believe we can survive the epidemic safely this time. In order to prevent mothers from worrying too much, today we will learn from Yi’an mothers how to deal with influenza A when their babies encounter it. What is influenza A? Influenza A is actually an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by an infection called influenza A virus. The characteristics of influenza A virus are: multiple hosts, easy mutation, and rapid spread. Many large-scale influenza outbreaks in history have been related to it. The influenza that has appeared around us recently is caused by the H1N1 subtype of the influenza A virus. Compared with the common cold, influenza A is more contagious, has a longer-lasting fever, and more severe systemic symptoms. How does influenza A spread? The three basic conditions for the spread of disease are: source of infection, route of transmission and susceptible groups. Source of infection: Symptomatic H1N1 patients or asymptomatic latent infections; Transmission route: H1N1 can be spread by droplets through the respiratory tract, nostrils and other mucous membranes. You can also be infected if you touch something infected with influenza A or the patient\’s secretions. In places with many people or poor ventilation, it can also be transmitted through aerosols, so mothers must be careful to wear masks. Susceptible groups: In fact, people are generally susceptible to influenza A, but pregnant women and babies under 5 years old are especially high-risk groups who are easily infected. What are the symptoms of influenza A? If you are infected with the influenza virus, symptoms will appear in about 1-4 days (an average of 2 days). The main symptoms are fever (body temperature can reach 39~40℃), headache, muscle and joint aches, sore throat, runny nose, vomiting and diarrhea. , severe cases of pneumonia may occur. Babies without complications who suffer from influenza A usually have symptoms similar to those of a common cold, but the fever and systemic symptoms are more obvious. If the body temperature does not exceed 39°C, it is likely to be mild influenza A, and the fever usually subsides in 3-4 days. Other symptoms will also improve. It usually takes 1-2 weeks for cough and physical strength to recover. This is normal. Mothers should not worry too much. However, if your baby develops serious symptoms such as high fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, severe cough, shortness of breath, drowsiness, irritability, or convulsions, you should go to the hospital immediately and do not take medicine at home. Severe cases may cause severe complications such as viral pneumonia, secondary bacterial pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock, and disseminated intravascular coagulation, which can even lead to death. We must not take it lightly. What should I do if I get influenza A? If the baby has influenza A, the mother must be very anxious. After confirming that it is an influenza A infection, the mother should learn the following treatments according to the baby\’s condition: General treatment For babies with influenza A, they need more rest. In fact, when the baby is sick, At this time, what the baby needs most is proper bed rest. Especially in the acute stage, activities should be reduced. Only when the symptoms improve can the activities be slowly increased. Do not overwork yourself. Drink plenty of water and closely observe changes in your condition. If the baby has symptoms of fever, physical cooling is needed, such as wiping the skin with a warm towel, opening clothes to increase the skin\’s heat dissipation area, etc. Medication Treatment If the baby\’s body temperature is too high, exceeding 38.5℃,If you need to take medication to cool down, you can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce fever under the guidance of a doctor. If the baby\’s condition is severe, go to the hospital for treatment in time. If necessary, use antiviral drugs (oseltamivir, etc.), which must be taken under the guidance of a doctor. Pay Attention to Protection If your baby gets influenza A, in addition to seeking medical attention promptly, you must also be careful not to infect other people. Mothers should protect their babies and pay attention to hygiene. The room where the baby lives should always open windows for ventilation. Both mother and baby should wash their hands frequently and avoid touching the mouth, nose, and eyes. Mom, don’t work too hard. If you have weak immunity, you will be easily infected. How to prevent influenza A? For high-risk groups, especially babies, we must actively prevent influenza A. Vaccination Getting a flu vaccine every year is the most effective way to prevent the flu. It is recommended that influenza vaccination be completed before the end of November every year, which can significantly reduce the risk of influenza A infection and serious complications. Pay attention to the age of the baby when vaccination: it is usually not recommended for babies under 6 months old to receive influenza vaccine; Children between 3 months and 3 years old generally need to be vaccinated in two doses for better results; babies over 3 years old can be vaccinated every year. Generally, the body begins to produce antibodies about 10 days after vaccination, and the antibodies can persist for several months. Take precautions by washing your hands frequently, wearing a mask, keeping the environment clean and ventilated, taking your baby less to crowded places during influenza season, and avoiding contact with patients with respiratory infections. I believe that mothers can protect their babies during this H1N1 epidemic. If you are accidentally infected, don’t worry. Pediatricians are the most reliable angels in protecting your baby’s health.