Complications of influenza in children

Flu is much more dangerous for children than the common cold. Every year, many children get seasonal flu, and sometimes complications from flu can lead to death. What complications can a child have after the flu and how can you reduce the risk of them?

Sad Facts About Flu in Children

• Children often need medical care after the flu, and sometimes do not survive to age 5 due to complications.
• Severe complications of influenza are most common in children under 2 years of age.
• Children with chronic health problems such as asthma, diabetes, and brain or nervous system disorders are at especially high risk for developing serious complications from flu.
• Every year, an average of 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized due to complications from influenza.

Flu seasons vary in severity, but some children die from the flu each year. From 2003–04 to 2011–12, childhood deaths ranged from 46 to 153 per year. In 2009, the H1N1 influenza pandemic caused 348 childhood deaths from April 15, 2009, to October 2, 2010.

What are the symptoms of flu in children?

Flu symptoms in children are much more severe than cold symptoms. Flu symptoms in children begin suddenly and usually become worse within the first two to three days of illness. Flu symptoms in children may include:

• high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius
• chills, the child is shaking with fever

• extreme fatigue
• headache and body aches
• dry, hacking cough
• sore throat
• vomiting and abdominal pain

If all these symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a doctor who can help prevent complications of flu in children. Here are some of the most common ones.

Bacterial pneumonia in children

Bacterial pneumonia is the most common and serious complication associated with influenza B. The influenza virus can damage the surface of the lungs in children, limiting breathing and increasing the risk of bacterial infections such as bacterial pneumonia.

Bacterial pneumonia occurs when harmful bacteria quickly invade your child's airways, causing swelling, fluid buildup, and inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs. Once your child's lungs fill with fluid, he or she may have difficulty breathing, causing stabbing chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, and cough.

Bacterial pneumonia can also be life-threatening for older adults and people with chronic medical conditions such as heart and lung disease.

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Encephalitis in children

A rare complication associated with influenza B is encephalitis. It usually occurs when the brain becomes inflamed as a result of viral infections, such as influenza B. Encephalitis occurs when a child's immune system is overstimulated to fight the flu virus. Fever and headache are the first signs of encephalitis. Seizures, confusion or loss of consciousness, drowsiness, or coma may follow. Encephalitis can affect people of all ages, but children under 7 and adults over 55 are most susceptible.

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Myositis in children

A common complication of influenza B that primarily affects children is myositis, or muscle inflammation. Symptoms of myositis include pain in the legs and muscles throughout the body, often lasting one to five days. The influenza virus can cause inflammation of the muscles in the body that are responsible for movement, leading to muscle weakness and pain when walking or moving.

Reye's syndrome in children

A relatively small number of children and adolescents who recover from influenza B may develop a neurological disorder called Reye's syndrome. This complication of influenza in children usually begins with nausea and vomiting and progresses rapidly. The child may then become confused and delirious.

Some children or adolescents may experience this condition after taking aspirin to relieve the pain and chills associated with the flu. True, the incidence of these complications is low: fewer than three children out of 100,000 who have the flu suffer from Reye's syndrome, but it is always a good idea to consult a doctor before giving aspirin to your child to avoid these conditions.

Protection against flu complications in children - vaccination

The single best way to protect your children from the flu is to get vaccinated every year.

The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three flu viruses. Research shows which ones will be most common next season: influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2), and influenza B.

Every baby 6 months and older should get a seasonal flu shot to prevent complications. Children under 5 years old and children of any age with underlying health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, or brain or nervous system problems, are at higher risk for serious complications from the flu (such as pneumonia).

This must be taken into account in order to prevent the risk of complications from influenza in children from six months to 18 years of age.