12/23/2025
As expected, this year’s flu season is already proving to be a doozy!
Please be patient with us, given the sheer number of patients calling with flu concerns- we are doing our best to triage and prioritize those at highest risk for severe flu complications.
If your child is under 2, or has any significant medical history (asthma, immune compromise, active heart conditions, etc.) and you suspect they have the flu, please call us for an appointment, as they may be a candidate for antiviral medication.
If your child is over 2 and generally healthy, we encourage you to treat them at home as much as possible.
Some flu tips:
- Antiviral medications will not necessarily make them feel better- in most cases, they can only shorten the illness by 1-2 days and reduce the risk of hospitalization for people at higher risk for flu complications.
- Influenza typically comes with higher fevers that last longer than other viruses. High fevers are NO more dangerous than low ones- fever is a sign that your child’s immune system is doing its job!
- Cough and cold medicines unfortunately aren’t all that effective, and generally not considered safe in kids under 6. For children over 12 months, honey is a great alternative.
- Common reasons to be seen in the office: your child isn’t tolerating fluids and has not urinated at least 3 times in 24h, any concerns about breathing, or the fever is lasting beyond 7-8 days.
- It’s not too late to vaccinate! Even if your child is diagnosed with the flu now, they are still vulnerable to getting it again later in the season. Immunization is still the best way to prevent serious flu-related disease.
Wash your hands, cover your coughs, stay home if you’re sick… we’re in this together- looking forward to those warmer months!
