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Protecting your kids is what you do. Keep them safe from the flu.
FLU GUIDE FOR PARENTS
You keep your child warm in the winter.
And you make sure he or she eats well everyday.
So, keep your child safe from the flu, too.
Get your child's flu shot every fall or winter.
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IS THE FLU MORE SERIOUS FOR KIDS?
Infants and young children are at a 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 a flu vaccine.
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A FLU SHOT 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. A flu vaccine is the best way to protect your child from the flu.
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WHAT IS THE FLU?
The flu, or influenza, is a viral infection of the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu can spread from person to person.
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FLU SHOT OR NASAL-SPRAY VACCINE?
-Flu shots can be given to children 6 months and older.
-A nasal-spray vaccine can be given to healthy children 2 years and older.
-Children younger than 5 years who have had wheezing in the past year- or any child with chronic health problems- should get the flu shot, not the nasal-spray vaccine.
-Children younger than 9 years old who get a vaccine for the first time need two doses.
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HOW ELSE CAN I PROTECT MY CHILD?
1. Get the flu vaccine for yourself.
2. Encourage your child's close contacts to get a flu vaccine, too. This is very important if your child is younger than 5 or if he or she has a chronic health problem like asthma (breathing disease) or diabetes (high blood sugar levels).
3. Clean your hands often and cover your coughs and sneezes. This will prevent the spread of germs.
4. 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. 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.
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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.
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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 thier nose or mouth.
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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 up to 5 days after getting sick. This can be longer in children and in people who don't fight the disease as well (people with weaker immune systems).
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WHAT SHOULD I USE TO CLEAN MY HANDS?
Wash your children's hands with soap and water. Clean them for as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. If soap and water are not handy, use wipes or gel with alcohol in them. The gels should be rubbed into hands until the hands are dry.
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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 doctor before giving your child over-the-counter medicine. If your children or teenagers may have the flu, never give them aspirin. or medicine that has aspirin in it. It could cause serious problems.
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CAN MY CHILD GO TO SCHOOL/DAY CARE WITH THE FLU?
No. If your child has the flu, he or she should stay home to rest. This helps avoid not giving the flu to other children.
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WHEN CAN MY CHILD GO BACK TO SCHOOL/DAY CARE AFTER HAVING THE FLU?
Keep your child home from school/day care until his or her temperature has been normal for 24 hours. Remind your child to protect other by covering his or her mouth when coughing or sneezing. You may want to send your child to school with some tissues, wipes, or gels with alcohol in them.
Click below for a PDF version of the above Flu Guide:
For more information about the flu, visit
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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