How long should a child stay home with the flu

The Flu (Influenza) (for Parents)

What Is the Flu?

The flu is an infection of the respiratory tract (nose, throat, and lungs). It's caused by a virus that spreads easily from person to person. Flu viruses usually cause the most illness during the colder months of the year. In the United States, flu season is from October to May.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of the Flu?

When people have the flu, they usually feel worse than they do with a cold. Most people start to feel sick about 2 days after they come in contact with the flu virus. They might have:

a fever that comes on suddenly
chills
headache
muscle aches
dizziness
loss of appetite
tiredness
a cough
sore throat
runny nose
nausea or vomiting
weakness
ear pain
diarrhea

Babies with the flu also may suddenly seem fussy or just "not look right. "

What Causes the Flu?

The flu gets its name from the virus that causes it — the influenza virus. It spreads when people cough or sneeze out droplets that are infected with the virus and other people breathe them in. The droplets also can land on things like doorknobs or shopping carts, infecting people who touch them.

Is the Flu Contagious?

The flu is very contagious. People can spread it from a day before they feel sick until their symptoms are gone. This is about 1 week for adults, but it can be longer for young kids.

The flu usually happens in annual epidemics. An epidemic is when an illness spreads quickly and infects lots of people in an area at the same time. Some years the epidemic is more severe and widespread than others. An epidemic that spreads worldwide is called a pandemic. This is far less common. There were three influenza pandemics in the 20th century, and one so far in the 21st century, in 2009 with influenza A (h2N1).

During the coronavirus pandemic, experts found that wearing masks can help protect the community from the spread of germs. They recommended that all children age 2 and up wear a mask when out in public or around people who don't live with them. Wearing masks can also help stop the spread of flu.

How Is the Flu Diagnosed?

Often, how a child looks is enough for health care providers to diagnose the flu. Kids who have it usually look ill and miserable.

Other infections can cause symptoms similar to the flu. So if health care providers need to be sure that someone has influenza, they might do a test. They'll take a sample of mucus by wiping a long cotton swab inside the nose or throat. Results might be ready quickly, or can take longer if the test is sent to a lab.

How Is the Flu Treated?

Most kids with flu get better at home. Make sure your child:

drinks lots of liquids to prevent dehydration
gets plenty of sleep and takes it easy
takes acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve fever and aches. Don't give kids or teens aspirin because of its link to Reye syndrome.
wears layers that are easy to remove. Kids might feel cold one minute and hot the next.

Children with the flu should stay home from school and childcare until they feel better. They should go back only when they haven't had a fever for at least 24 hours without using a fever-reducing medicine. Some kids need to stay home longer. Ask the doctor what's best for your child.

Doctors may prescribe antiviral medicine for a very ill child or kids are at risk for more serious symptoms. The medicine can shorten the flu by 1–2 days. It works best if children start taking it within 48 hours of the start of the flu. If a doctor prescribes antiviral medicine for your child, ask about any possible side effects. Doctors won't prescribe antibiotics for the flu. Antibiotics work only against bacteria, not viruses.

What Problems Can Happen?

Some children are more likely to have problems when they get the flu, including:

kids up to age 5, especially babies
people with a weak immune system from medicines (such as chemotherapy or long-term steroid use) or illnesses or illnesses (like HIV infection or cancer)
people with chronic (long-term) medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes
kids or teens who take aspirin regularly
people who are very obese
women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, just had a baby, or are breastfeeding
people who live in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes
people 65 years and older

If they get the flu, their illness can be more serious. They can develop pneumonia or get even sicker from other kinds of infections (like bacterial infections). If this happens, many will need medical care in the hospital. So it's important for them not to be near anyone who has the flu or flu-like symptoms.

People who have flu symptoms should keep their distance from anyone who might get very sick if they catch the flu.

How Long Does the Flu Last?

Fever and other flu symptoms often go away after a week or so, but some people may still have a cough or feel weak for longer than that.

Can the Flu Be Prevented?

There's no guaranteed way to avoid the flu. But getting the flu vaccine every year can help. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get it each year.

Most doctor's offices, clinics, and drugstores offer the flu vaccine from September to mid-November. It's best to get it before the end of October. But even if you don't get it at the start of the flu season, it's not too late to get one while the flu is still going around.

If your child is sick, has a fever, or is wheezing, talk to your doctor to see if you need to reschedule the flu vaccine.

What Else Can Help?

To make spreading the flu less likely, everyone in your family should::

Wash hands well and often with soap, especially after using the bathroom, after coughing or sneezing, and before eating or preparing food
Never pick up used tissues.
Never share cups and eating utensils.
Stay home from work or school if they have the flu.
Cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, then put it in the trash.
Cough or sneeze into their upper arm, not their hands, if a tissue isn't handy.

The Flu: A Guide for Parents

The Flu: A Guide for Parents is also available in Portable Document Format (PDF)

Is the flu more serious for kids??

Infants and young children are at greater risk for getting seriously ill from the flu. That's why the New York State Department of Health recommends that all children 6 months and older get the flu vaccine.

Flu vaccine may save your child's life.

Most people with the flu are sick for about a week, and then they feel better. But, some people, especially young children, pregnant women, older people, and people with chronic health problems can get very sick. Some can even die. An annual vaccine is the best way to protect your child from the flu. The vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older every year.

What is the flu?

The flu, or influenza, is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu can spread from person to person.

Who needs the flu vaccine?

Flu vaccine can be given to children 6 months and older.
Children younger than 9 years old who get a vaccine for the first time need two doses.

How else can I protect my child?

Get the flu vaccine for yourself.
Encourage your child's close contacts to get the flu vaccine, too. This is very important if your child is younger than 5, or if he or she has a chronic health problem such as asthma (breathing disease) or diabetes (high blood sugar levels). Because children under 6 months can't be vaccinated, they rely on those around them to get an annual flu vaccine.
Wash your hands often and cover your coughs and sneezes. It's best to use a tissue and quickly throw it away. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. This will prevent the spread of germs.
Tell your children to:
- Stay away from people who are sick;
- Clean their hands often;
- Keep their hands away from their face; and
- Cover coughs and sneezes to protect others.

What are signs of the flu?

The flu comes on suddenly. Most people with the flu feel very tired and have a high fever, headache, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and sore muscles. Some people, especially children, may also have stomach problems and diarrhea. The cough can last two or more weeks.

How does the flu spread?

People who have the flu usually cough, sneeze, and have a runny nose. The droplets in a cough, sneeze or runny nose contain the flu virus. Other people can get the flu by breathing in these droplets or by getting them in their nose or mouth.

How long can a sick person spread the flu to others?

Most healthy adults may be able to spread the flu from one day before getting sick to up to 5 days after getting sick. This can be longer in children and in people who don't fight disease as well (people with weaker immune systems).

What should I use to clean hands?

Wash your children's hands with soap and water. Wash them for as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. If soap and water are not handy, use a hand sanitizer. It should be rubbed into hands until the hands are dry.

What can I do if my child gets sick?

Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks lots of fluids.
Talk with your child's health care provider before giving your child over-the-counter medicine.
Never give your child or teen aspirin, or medicine that has aspirin in it. It can cause serious problems.
Call your child's health care provider if your child develops flu symptoms and is younger than 5 or has a chronic medical condition like asthma, diabetes, or heart or lung disease.
If you are worried about your child's illness, call your health care provider.

Can my child go to school or day care with the flu?

No. If your child has the flu, he or she should stay home to rest. This helps avoid giving the flu to other children.

When can my child go back to school or day care after having the flu?

Children with the flu should be isolated in the home, away from other people. They should also stay home until they have no fever without the use of fever-control medicines and they feel well for 24 hours. Remind your child to protect others by covering his or her mouth when coughing or sneezing. You may want to send your child to school with some tissues, and a hand sanitizer, if allowed by the school.

For more information about the flu, visit health.ny.gov/flu Or, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

About quarantine for influenza and SARS in educational institutions

Speaking about viral infections, in particular about influenza, the concept of "quarantine" is often encountered. When and for what purpose are quarantine measures introduced?

Any case of influenza means limiting contact with healthy people. This is necessary to prevent the occurrence and spread of infection, and also reduces the risk of complications in the patient himself.

Let us recall the disease itself.

Influenza is a massive viral infection spread by airborne droplets, dangerous for its complications. According to the World Health Organization, during annual seasonal influenza epidemics, mortality from the disease itself and its complications is 250,000 - 500,000 people annually.

Even an initially healthy person, without concomitant chronic diseases, having the flu, runs the risk of getting complications characterized by dysfunction of almost all systems and organs.

Complications of influenza depend on age and health. The younger the child, the more likely it is to require hospitalization, as is the case for older individuals (over 60).

The most common complication of influenza is pneumonia (pneumonia), without timely medical assistance, it can be fatal due to pulmonary edema.

The incidence of influenza in young children and schoolchildren is 3-4 times higher than the incidence in other age groups and is 30-40%, the incidence of healthy adults is 5-10%.

Timely preventive measures, one of which is "quarantine", can reduce the risk of spreading the infection.

Quarantine measures are justified by the high incidence of influenza in organized institutions.

The main purpose of quarantine measures is the isolation of the infected. Carriers of the virus, in which the disease is asymptomatic, are of particular danger in terms of transmission.

What is quarantine?

Quarantine is a set of restrictive measures that cause the transition to a special regime of the educational process.

The main goal of restrictive measures is to separate the sick from the healthy in order to prevent the spread of infection.

In the foci of influenza and SARS in preschool educational institutions, medical personnel daily, for 7 days after the isolation of the last patient with influenza and SARS, examines children who have been in contact with a patient with influenza and SARS, with mandatory thermometry 2 times a day and examination of the throat. The results of the survey are recorded.

A set of sanitary and anti-epidemic (preventive) measures is organized in the foci of influenza infection and SARS, providing for the mandatory disinfection of dishes, air and surfaces in rooms using disinfectants and methods that are effective for viral infections and methods approved for use, as well as current wet cleaning and ventilation premises.

When is quarantine introduced?

If more than 20% of children are absent from a group or class due to influenza, school activities and children's visits to preschool organizations are suspended for a period of at least 7 days (equal to the flu incubation period). The deadline may be extended.

Quarantine measures may include the following:

- all children who have been in contact with a sick child should undergo regular examinations with temperature measurement, examination of the nasopharyngeal mucosa and recording of the general condition - these measures help to identify sick children in time;

- a ban on preventive vaccinations and Mantoux reaction is introduced, since infectious diseases are contraindications for such procedures;

- all mass events are canceled, during which students from several classes or schools are together in large groups in close contact;

– the classroom system of education is canceled – during quarantine, students remain in the same classroom;

- lessons are canceled during which students from several classes must be together;

- lessons are canceled on the street, that is, outside the premises;

- regular wet cleaning is carried out with the use of disinfectants of all surfaces that have frequent contact with the hands or mucous membranes of the child;

– Quartzization of places where children are generally visited in their absence is carried out;

- admission of children and staff with influenza or acute respiratory infections to preschool is allowed only after they have fully recovered;

– a set of explanatory work is organized among parents and children of senior groups on the prevention of influenza and influenza-like infections.

We remind you about influenza prevention measures:

if you are sick, stay at home;
When sneezing and coughing, turn away from people, use a disposable handkerchief, after which it must be discarded. If you don’t have a handkerchief or napkin at hand, use your elbow to sneeze;
regularly ventilate the room and damp-clean the house;
wash your hands regularly with soap;
do not touch your face;
avoid crowded places.

SARS Clinical Guideline

Clinical Guideline:

"Acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) in children. ICD 10: J00 / J02.9/ J04.0/ J04.1/J04.2/J06.0/J06.9

Year of approval (frequency of revision): 2018 (review every 3 years)

Professional associations: Russian Union of Pediatricians

Approved by: Russian Union of Pediatricians

Appendix B. Patient Information

ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection) is the most common disease in children.

The cause of the disease is a variety of viruses. The disease often develops in autumn, winter and early spring.

How they become infected with an infection that causes ARVI: most often by getting on the nasal mucosa or conjunctiva from hands contaminated by contact with the patient (for example, through a handshake) or with virus-infected surfaces (rhinovirus persists on them for up to a day).

Other way - airborne - by inhalation of saliva particles released when sneezing, coughing or in close contact with the patient.

Period from infection to onset of illness: in most cases 2 to 7 days. Isolation of viruses by patients (infectiousness for others) is maximum on the 3rd day after infection, sharply decreases by the 5th day; mild shedding of the virus can persist for up to 2 weeks.

Signs of ARVI: the most common manifestation of ARVI in children is nasal congestion, as well as nasal discharge: transparent and / or white and / or yellow and / or green (the appearance of discharge from the nose of yellow or green color is not a sign of a bacterial infection !). An increase in temperature often lasts no more than 3 days, then the body temperature decreases. In some infections (influenza and adenovirus infection), the temperature above 38ºC persists for a longer time (up to 5-7 days).

SARS may also cause: sore throat, cough, red eyes, sneezing.

Examinations: in most cases, additional examinations are not required for a child with SARS.

Treatment: ARVI is mostly benign, resolves within 10 days, and does not always require medication.

Decrease in temperature: a feverish child should be opened, wiped with water T° 25-30°C. In order to reduce the temperature in children, it is permissible to use only 2 drugs - paracetamol or ibuprofen. Antipyretic drugs in healthy children ≥3 months are justified at temperatures above 39- 39.5°C. With a less pronounced fever (38-38.5 ° C), fever-reducing agents are indicated for children under 3 months old, patients with chronic pathology, as well as temperature-related discomfort. Regular (course) intake of antipyretics is undesirable, a second dose is administered only after a new increase in temperature.

The alternation of these two drugs or their use in combination does not lead to an increase in the antipyretic effect.

Do not use acetylsalicylic acid and nimesulide for antipyretic purposes in children. It is highly undesirable to use metamizole in children due to the high risk of developing agranulocytosis. In many countries of the world, metamizole has been banned for use for over 50 years.

Antibiotics - do not work on viruses (the main cause of SARS). Antibiotics are considered if a bacterial infection is suspected. Antibiotics must be prescribed by a doctor. Uncontrolled use of antibiotics can promote the development of resistant microbes and cause complications.

How to prevent the development of SARS:

A sick child should be left at home (not taken to kindergarten or school). Of paramount importance are measures to prevent the spread of viruses: thorough hand washing after contact with the sick.