At some point or another your child is bound to succumb to the flu.

There are many types of flu your child can catch. For this article we’ll focus on the stomach flu, since that seems to be so common and so rampant among young children.

Just in case you are not familiar, the stomach flu is more commonly characterized by the following:

If your son or daugher exhibits one or more of these symptoms there is a strong chance they may have the stomach flu.

Causes of the Stomach Flu
There are many different causes of stomach flu, though more commonly stomach flu is caused by bacteria and other viruses.

At times your child may demonstrate symptoms of the stomach flu resulting from food poisoning.

Treating The Stomach Flu
If your child demonstrates symptoms of the flu you should do your best to make sure you provide your child with plenty of rehydrating fluids.

Electrolyte replacement formulas, apple juice and plain water all all good substitutes. If your child is not able to keep fluids down, he or she may lose too much fluid and you may need to take them to the hospital so they can receive IV care.

Most of the time the stomach flu resolves itself in 24 hours or less. Sometimes it may last as long as 48 hours. If your child is demonstrating symptoms longer than this you should seek the advice of your healthcare provider.

Don’t give your child any medicines for the stomach flu without first consulting your pediatrician. Some over the counter medications for stomach upset are dangerous when given to children.

You should also call your doctor if your child’s fever persists for more than 24 hours or if your child has a high temperature. Other causes for concern include blood in the stool or vomit. Lack of urination may also be a sign your child is dehydrated.

Be sure you contact your health care providers office for more information about treating the stomach flu. Fortuantely most kids recover quickly from the stomach flu and are back to their usual selves within a day or so!

The flu season is in full swing and depending on where you live you still have up to three months of \ flu season remaining. Individuals, including children, are urged to get their flu shot in September; however, it is sometimes possible for a child to get a flu shot later on in the season.

Flu shots are a great way to protect all kinds of children from getting the flu. Healthcare physicians urge parents to understand that infants aged six months to twenty-four months need a flu shot. This age group is more likely to develop a more serve case of the flu. In recent years when there has been a shortage in flu vaccines many flu clinics were limited only to high risk patients which included infants.

After October or November there are not a large number of flu clinics being offered at local supermarkets or department stores. These clinics are the only way that a number of families can afford to have their child vaccinated from the flu. Parents who make the decision to give their child a flu shot later in the season are usually required to visit their local hospital or physician. It is not a guarantee that these establishments will still have the vaccine available; however, they may be able to point parents in the right direction if they don’t.

Parents are encouraged to keep an eye on the flu season and flu shots beginning around September and October. Many children getting the flu shot for the first time are required to have two separate injections. The flu vaccine needs a few weeks to protect the body from illness; therefore, parents are encouraged to think about their children and the flu vaccine before it is too late.

With flu season in full swing many parents are constantly concerned with the thought of their children becoming sick. Due to school and daycare centers it is highly likely that a child will catch the flu. The flu is a dangerous illness that is highly contagious. The majority of flu cases cannot be prevented in children because one way or another it is likely that children will transfer germs and bacteria to each other; however, there are some steps that parents can take to reduce the likelihood of their children getting sick.

When it comes to school and daycare there are many parents who will not send their child if they are sick or display flu symptoms. Parents always need to keep in mind that just because they would not send a sick child to an establishment where other children will be does not necessarily mean that other parents think the same way. You can do a lot to prevent your children from becoming ill with the flu; however, if they come into contact with a sick child their chances of contracting the flu more than double.

At elementary or middle schools it may be more difficult for parents to keep an eye on other children; however, many parents can keep a tab on the other children at a daycare center. Daycare providers have an obligation to protect the child in their care; however, there are still some providers who accept sick children. Before dropping your child off you are encouraged to ask your daycare provider if any children are showing signs of the flu or another sickness. If there are sick kids at the daycare center parents may want to consider taking their child home for the day. Although parents will have to miss a day or two of work it is much better than contracting the flu, which can actually keep children sick and parents out of work for up to ten days.

Other easy ways that parents can prevent their child from getting the flu is by keeping them away from any of their siblings that may be sick. Do not encourage children to eat or drink from the same cups or plates without first being washed. If someone in the household is sick with the flu or beginning to show some symptoms of the flu it is important that parents disinfect the house. Simply using a disinfecting cloth or a disinfecting spray will eliminate a number of harmful bacteria that could cause a child to become ill with the flu.

We are currently about halfway through flu season. The flu, medically referred to as Influenza, is a contagious illness that effects the respiratory functions in individuals of all ages. The flu is a potentially dangerous disease for just about everyone; however, young children have a greater risk of suffering severe medical complications from the flu.

Since many infants and toddlers are unable to communicate when they fall ill it is important for parents to be aware of their child’s health. Looking for flu symptoms in a child can be fairly difficult especially in younger children. Preschool and traditional school aged children are more likely to communicate their pain or discomfort to their parents. Although it is likely that a child will speak to their parents when they are sick, it is still extremely important for parents to regularly monitor their child’s health.

Some parents have a difficult time determining whether their child is experiencing the flu or just another common cold because many of the symptoms appear to be similar. Even if parents are not exactly sure whether their child is coming down with the flu it is important that they take their child to a hospital or a healthcare provider if their child is experiencing a combination of some of the following flu symptoms. Children with the flu may be experiencing body aches, headaches, a sore throat, a fever, or nasal congestion. Whenever an individual or child experiences the flu they are often left extremely exhausted and tired. Otherwise active children with the flu may seem a little sluggish or appear extremely tired all of the time.

Flu season is a difficult time for many individuals, including children. Children in elementary school, preschool, or daycare have a increased risk of contracting the flu. In many cases there is nothing that a parent can do to prevent their child from catching it. Although the flu is a difficult illness to have it can successfully be treated within a number of days if children are provided with medical care in the appropriate amount of time.