As a nurse practitioner with a doctorate in nursing and advanced training in children’s breathing problems, Candace DeLuca, DNP, APRN, PNP-BC, gets asked a lot of questions by the parents whose children visit her at the Nemours Children’s Specialty Care clinic at Lakeland Regional Health. One of the most common concerns at this time of year is the flu.
“From October through May is when I see a lot of children who have flu-like symptoms,” said Nurse Practitioner DeLuca. “The symptoms can include fever, chills, body ache, coughing and feeling tired.” Nurse Practitioner DeLuca notes that while many children recover from the flu in a few days, some experience severe illness. In extreme circumstances, the flu can lead to death. And while the flu is miserable for anyone who gets it, it is especially hard for people with breathing issues, including those with asthma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that flu infections can trigger asthma attacks and a worsening of asthma symptoms. Flu can also lead to pneumonia and other acute respiratory diseases. Nurse Practitioner DeLuca tells all her patients and families: The flu is nothing to mess around with – do your best to avoid it.
This year, the flu is likely to cause even more concern than it normally does because its symptoms can be confused for the early symptoms of COVID-19. Both COVID-19 and the flu are contagious respiratory illnesses caused by a virus. One of the ways in which they differ is that COVID-19 is caused by the coronavirus and the flu is caused by the influenza virus. The illnesses also differ in their severity and lasting effects. COVID-19 can be more serious and cause serious complications that continue long after a person recovers from the initial illness.
The influenza virus infects the nose, throat and lungs. Like COVID-19, the flu spreads mainly through tiny droplets that are expelled when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk. If one of those influenza-laden droplets lands in your mouth or nose, you could get the flu. You can also get the flu if you touch a surface or object that has the flu virus on it, then touch your own mouth, nose or eyes.
While there’s still no vaccine to protect against COVID-19, there is one to protect against the flu, and Nurse Practitioner DeLuca urges families to get a flu shot now if they haven’t already. The flu vaccine has been shown to reduce flu-related illnesses and the risk of serious complications that could result in a hospitalization or even death. Nurse Practitioner DeLuca also recommends doing these things:
- Stay home when sick
- Stay away from people who are sick
- Cough or sneeze into an elbow instead of a hand
- Wash hands often with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds each time
Wondering at what age to start getting a flu shot for your child? Nurse Practitioner DeLuca advises that children who are 6 months old and older should get a flu vaccine.
“We all have enough to worry about right now,” said Ms. DeLuca. “Get your flu shot so you have one less thing to worry about.”