PARENTS CONNECTION
Seasonal and H1N1 Flu: Know the Facts

This fall a lot of parents are concerned about their child catching either the seasonal flu, which comes every year, or the H1N1 flu. Here’s what you need to know about both types of flu and how you can best protect your family.

How H1N1 compares with seasonal flu
H1N1 is a viral respiratory infection with symptoms similar to the seasonal flu. H1N1 spreads very much the same way as the regular seasonal flu virus spreads – from person to person through coughing and sneezing by people infected with the virus. Learn the difference between cold and flu symptoms

In general, H1N1 illnesses range from mild to very severe, similar to the seasonal flu. Most healthy people recover from both types of flu without problems and don't need to go to the emergency room or be hospitalized. Learn more about H1N1 flu and the H1N1 vaccine.

What to do about flu symptoms
The symptoms of seasonal flu and H1N1 are similar, as both are respiratory viruses.

Mild flu symptoms can include:

• high fever
• headache
• tiredness, cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• body aches
• diarrhea
• vomiting

Mild symptoms do not require a trip to the emergency room. Instead, Texas Children's advises bed rest, plenty of fluids and a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol^®. Never give a child aspirin.

There are several emergency warning signs, however, that require immediate medical attention. These include:

• fast breathing or trouble breathing
• bluish skin color
• not drinking enough fluids
• not waking up or not interacting
• being so irritable that your child does not want to be held
• flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• fever with a rash

If your child exhibits emergency warning signs of the flu, seek immediate medical care. Learn more about what to do about flu symptoms.

How to protect yourself and your family from flu
While the flu shot is the most effective protection against the flu, other daily common-sense practices can reduce the spread of infection. Practice these well-health habits year-round and especially during flu season to add another layer of protection against illness.

• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing to help prevent others from getting sick.
• Throw away used tissues so they are not accidentally touched by someone else.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Cleaning hands with alcohol-based hand cleaners also is effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth so you don’t infect yourself with germs you may have touched.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and when you are sick, keep your distance to keep from infecting others.
• Stay home when you are sick to help prevent others from catching your illness. If you are sick with flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine).
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control online for more information about habits that help prevent the spread of flu.

For more information about seasonal or H1N1 flu, visit www.flu.texaschildrens.org.