Spike in high-grade fever and flu among children: What are symptoms and prevention measures? – The Indian Express

It has been a week but 12-year-old Rishi Vema from Shalimar Bagh is still battling high-grade fever, a runny nose, a severe headache and a spasmodic cough that refuses to go away. He first reported a stubborn fever of 104 degrees F, says his mother Vinita, who thought that he had contracted a virus from her husband, who is still recovering from a bad bout of pneumonia. But doctors have now diagnosed him with influenza, which is raging among children in the Delhi, NCR region, possibly indicating a strain that they are finding difficult to ward off or being exposed to for the first time.

According to Dr Arvind Kumar, Director, and HOD, Paediatrics at Fortis, Shalimar Bagh, and Dr Sumit Ray, Medical Superintendent at Holy Family Hospital in Okhla, the latest bout of infection could be due to a cocktail of viruses that flourish with the days just beginning to get hotter. While Dr Kumar has not been testing every patient, Dr Ray says that almost 60-70 per cent of his young patients are influenza positive. Both agree that the number of affected kids, though not alarming yet, is surely higher than in the last two years.

Yes, in a majority of patients, according to Dr Roy. Predominantly it is influenza A and a few cases of influenza B but because the test is expensive and the symptoms are the same, we are starting medication, says Dr Kumar. The worrying part is Paracetamol is breaking the fever only temporarily and the temperature is returning after a few hours.

The children could experience high fever and chills recording high temperatures up to 104 degrees F, a runny nose, a sore throat, headache and dry cough. In some cases, they may experience digestive discomforts such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

To ensure your childs recovery from the flu, parents must follow these steps: First, prioritise ample rest in bed. Second, promote hydration by encouraging your child to drink fluids. Third, emphasise nutrition as children benefit from consuming bland foods. A bland diet consists of soft, mildly seasoned, and low-fibre foods.

Yes. Doctors say that the virus can spread from one person to another through droplets released during coughing and sneezing. Hence, keeping your child far away from any infected person in an indoor environment is essential. Do not let your kids touch objects contaminated with the virus. Hand hygiene is a must, says Dr Kumar.

If the child is dull, listless, not eating, and is dehydrated, with no improvement even in five days, rush them to a hospital, advises Dr Roy.

Dr Kumar suggests monitoring your childs temperature regularly. Do not go for over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children younger than three years of age unless prescribed by your doctor. Decongestants and antihistamines wont stop coughing. Give them supportive relief with a light soupy diet, immunity-boosting foods and warm fluids. Use saline nose drops or to clear mucus from nasal cavities.

Doctors point out that in the cases of flu, the virus also leads to severe upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, and bronchiolitis (infection of the tiny airways that lead to the lungs). In some cases, children may take up to two weeks to recover properly. They may experience digestive discomfort such as nausea, vomitting and diarrhoea.

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Spike in high-grade fever and flu among children: What are symptoms and prevention measures? - The Indian Express