With the winter months, the prevalence of flu infections began to increase. Near East University Hospital Pediatrics Department Specialist and Neonatal Intensive Care Specialist Prof. Dr. Ceyhun Dalkan warned that even deaths could occur due to complications from the flu.
prof. Dr. Ceyhun Dalkan says that, related to complications from flu in children, chronic diseases such as pneumonia, loss of fluid, heart disease or asthma, sinusitis and ear infections, and deterioration in brain functions, and rarely, deaths may occur due to these complications.
Children younger than 6 months are the highest risk group.
Children younger than 6 months have a higher risk of hospitalization for the flu than children of other ages. Expressing that the use of flu vaccines in children younger than 6 months is not approved by the health authorities, Prof. Dr. Ceyhun Dalkan draws attention to the importance of protecting children in this age group from flu.
Flu prevention recommendations
“It is not enough to just vaccinate children. Caregivers and all family members need to be vaccinated to protect themselves and their children from the flu.” said Prof. Dr. Ceyhun Dalkan says that the first and best way to protect against flu is to get an annual flu vaccine. The flu vaccine reduces the risk of flu, hospitalization and death in children.
Drawing attention to daily preventive actions to protect against the flu, Prof. Dr. Ceyhun Dalkan says that adults should keep both themselves and their children away from sick people as much as possible.
People with flu symptoms should avoid contact with other people as much as possible, including the child in their care. In case of coughing or sneezing, it is recommended to cover the nose and mouth with a tissue, throw the tissue away after use, wash hands frequently with soap and water or clean with an alcohol-based hand cleaner. In order to prevent the spread of germs, the eyes, nose and mouth should not be touched, and frequently touched surfaces should be disinfected.
Stating that antiviral drugs used in the treatment of influenza in children and adults alleviate the disease and shorten the duration of the disease, Prof. Dr. Ceyhun Dalkan states that it also prevents serious flu complications. Antiviral drug therapy works best when started within 2 days of getting sick.
Although all children younger than 5 years of age are thought to be at high risk of flu complications, children younger than 2 years of age are at the highest risk. The highest hospitalization and death rates are seen in infants under 6 months of age.
flu symptoms
Flu; It can cause fever, cough, sore throat, runny/congested nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Young children may also experience vomiting or diarrhea with flu symptoms.
Contact your doctor if you are experiencing flu symptoms
“Watch the children in your care closely for signs and symptoms of respiratory disease. Contact your doctor if you develop fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache, tiredness, or vomiting/diarrhea.” said Prof. Dr. Ceyhun Dalkan reminds that starting the use of antiviral drugs that are effective in the treatment of influenza without delay will increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
emergency symptoms
prof. Dr. Ceyhun Dalkan lists the flu-related complications that require admission to the emergency department as follows; Excessive dehydration, including rapid breathing or difficulty breathing, purple lips or face, ribs coming in with each breath, chest pain, muscle pain so severe that it refuses to walk, no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, and absence of tears when crying not interacting, having a seizure, fever greater than 40 degrees Celsius, fever in children younger than 12 weeks, fever or cough that improves but then returns or worsens, worsening of chronic medical conditions.
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