Does Your Child Have The Flu Or A Cold? (NAPSA)—Every year, as many as 40 percent of children may become infected with the influenza virus. Flu season typically stretches through winter into early spring. In the midst of the flu season, parents know it is as important as ever to be vigilant and prepared. Unfortunately, parents are often left guessing about their child’s diagnosis because the flu shares many symptoms with the common cold, such as a cough, sore throat and headache. Even fever is not a reliable indicator. Fever can be seen in both the flu and a cold, since children are morelikely than adults to have an elevated temperature when they havea cold. Health care professionals recommendthat children see their pediatrician for testing and treatment at the onset of symptoms. According to Dr. Frank Nadal of Nadal Pediatrics, “While most of the time the flu is not a severe illness in children, it can be quite serious in others. I advise parents to look out for a numberofthings. If their child is having difficulty breathing, difficulty eating or if she or he has a high temperature, those are times, among others, that parents need to seek medical attention.” It is vital that the virus be diagnosed quickly. Influenza is a Your child’s pediatrician can tell you whether your youngster has a cold or influenza—and what to do aboutit. contagious disease, and a child can pass around the flu for more than a week. The most widely used rapid test among physicians is the QuickVue Influenza A+B test, a fast and painless test that can detect the presence of the influenza virus. Thetest is simple, requiring just a nasal swab, and can provide results in 10 minutes or less. Onceflu is detected, physicians may prescribe anti-viral drugs, which have been found to be more effective the earlier they are given. Furthermore, parents get peace of mind knowing that their children are receiving the most appropriate treatment option available. For more information, visit www.flutest.com or ask your physician aboutflu testing.
