Home remedy for influenza in children

Condition analysis:
Children play a major role in the spread of influenza in their communities because high numbers are exposed to the influenza viruses at schools and day care centers. Overall, as many as 30% of children may become infected during a regular flu season, and in some day care settings, as many as 50% of children can get the flu.

Instructions:
Rest in bed as needed.

Allow the child to drink lots of fluids of the child's choice.

Treat fever with acetaminophen (Children's Tylenol, Infant's Feverall, Junior Strength Panadol) or ibuprofen (Children's Advil, Children's Motrin) taken according to package instructions or consult the child's doctor. Ibuprofen should not be administered to children below 6 months of age. Do not give aspirin because it poses a risk of causing Reye's syndrome. Reye's syndrome is a potentially fatal illness that commonly affects the brain and liver.

Use a humidifier in the child's room to make dry air easier to breathe.
Children may need more careful attention for these symptoms.

Runny nose: Younger infants usually breathe through their nose and tend not to breathe through the mouth. Even older children have difficulty breathing through the mouth and sucking on something at the same time. Therefore, it is very important that the child's nose should be clean before feeding and before putting the child to sleep.

Suctioning is the method to clean the nose. For younger infants, use a rubber suction bulb to remove the secretions gently. Older children can blow their noses, but forceful blowing can push the secretions into the ear tubes or sinuses. Encourage the use of tissues and gentle nose blowing.

Dry or stuffy nose: It is important to remember that most stuffy noses are blocked by dry mucus. Blowing or sniffling alone cannot remove dry mucus. Use of saline nose drops is helpful in loosening the mucus. These nose drops are available at most drugstores. One minute after using the nose drops, use a soft rubber suction bulb to gently suck out the loosened mucus.