As we near the end of the year, there are many exciting things to look forward to - trick or treating on Halloween, Thanksgiving feasts, and Holiday celebrations. For parents raising children with special health care needs, flu season can be a very stressful and worrisome time of year. The flu, also known as influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that can cause fever, chills, headache, dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and muscle aches. Unlike the common cold, it can also cause extreme fatigue, which can last from several days to more than a week. In children, gastrointestinal symptoms may be seen as well, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Influenza is spread very easily from person to person primarily when a person coughs or sneezes.
Once the person has been infected with the virus, symptoms will generally appear in 2 to 4 days. The person is considered contagious from 24 hours before symptoms appear to 3 to 4 days after the symptoms have appeared. Most people who get the flu recover in 1 to 2 weeks, however, some will develop serious or life-threatening complications and may require hospitalization. There are three types of influenza viruses, designated as A, B, and C. Influenza type A and B are responsible for the respiratory illnesses that occur every winter and are often associated with hospitalizations. B. Therefore, efforts to control the impact of influenza are aimed at types A and B with the use of vaccinations.