11/01/2018
Flu season has hit hard this year, so it is important to know how to protect and treat your child if you suspect that they have flu. Here are some guidelines to help:
- Keep your child indoors and make sure they rest
- Make sure they drink plenty of liquids
- Paracetamol or Ibuprofen will relieve your child's fever, headache or muscle pains
- You can alternate between giving Paracetamol (max of 4 doses in 24 hours) and Ibuprofen (max of 3 doses in 24 hours). The dose should be given according to the child's weight, not age. This can be worked out with the help of the attached charts. The maximum dose per 24 hours should not be exceeded
- When your child is sneezing or coughing, encourage them to use a tissue, which should be immediately binned, and the child's hands washed
- As a care-giver, you should constantly wash your hands, especially after touching your child. Avoid touching your eyes or mouth
- Children with flu are usually infectious one day before symptoms start, and remain infectious for five or six days. This means they can spread the flu to others during this time, so avoid any unnecessary contact between your child and others until they are better.
- Your child can go back to their normal activities when they feel well enough
- Unless your child has a chronic (long-term) medical condition, it is rare for them to need anything other than time to get better. However, if flu symptoms are severe or last for more than a week, bring your child to the doctor.
