Flu, Norton Childrens Medical Group

Flu or a stomach virus? How to tell the difference

Does your child have a fever? Are they throwing up? What about diarrhea? You may be wondering if it is the flu or a stomach virus.  Sometimes what we call the flu really is a stomach bug, or vice versa — and sometimes there are specific symptoms that can offer up some clues. “Many people…

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Flu, Norton Childrens Medical Group

5 ways to protect your child from the flu

5 ways to protect your child from the flu Flu season is underway, and there are several things you can do to help protect your child from the flu and other respiratory viruses this year. 1) Hand-washing is an easy and effective way to help prevent the flu. “Hand-washing is key to protecting ourselves from…

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Flu, Norton Childrens Medical Group

Flu shots for kids: A pediatrician answers parents’ questions

Pediatricians at Norton Children’s Medical Group are gearing up for the upcoming influenza (flu) season, which typically runs from October through May.  While already high levels of COVID-19 are circulating in our communities, the flu and other respiratory viruses (such as RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus) are expected to rise again this year as they…

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COVID19, Flu

Halloween still can be fun and safer

There are ways to have Halloween fun this year while taking precautions to keep your family and those around you safer. In general, you can be confident allowing your kids to trick or treat in small groups, staying outdoors and avoiding crowded indoor parties, Rochelle Walensky, M.D., MPH, director of the Centers for Disease Control…

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COVID19, Flu

Symptoms aren’t enough to know the difference between flu and COVID-19

Flu and COVID-19 symptoms can be the same, leading to confusion and anxiety for parents with children feeling under the weather. If your child experiences symptoms such as a fever and cough — or if you do — here are some steps to help prevent the spread: Stay home except to get medical care. Get…

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COVID19, Flu, News, Norton Childrens Medical Group

Kids’ fevers: When to be concerned

A child with a fever can be scary in normal times. These days, it’s especially so. Here are some steps to take when it happens, and how to know when a fever is too high for a child. Is it really a fever? First, make sure it’s really a fever. As with adults, a child’s…

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COVID19, Flu

Qué hacer con un niño pequeño que tose por la noche

¿Un niño pequeño tose cuando está acostado? ¿Quizás no tosió en absoluto durante el día, o no tosió mucho, pero empezó a toser por la noche? La razón es que la mucosidad de los senos nasales se drena hacia la garganta mientras su niño está en posición horizontal, lo que desencadena la tos. El asma…

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COVID19, Flu

¿Cuándo es la gripe o el COVID-19 una emergencia para los niños?

Son las 2 a.m. y su hijo tiene fiebre alta. ¿Los signos de la gripe están ahí o es COVID-19? En ese momento, los pensamientos de los padres pueden acelerarse: “¿Debo llamar al pediatra o ir al departamento de emergencias?” Haga un inventario de cómo se ve su hijo y cómo está actuando según la…

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Flu, Prevention & Wellness

New guidelines on when kids should get the flu shot

With this year’s flu season coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatricians are urging parents to get their kids’ flu shots sooner rather than later. In newly released guidelines, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly recommends children receive their flu vaccinations by the end of October. This includes all eligible kids 6 months and older….

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COVID19, Flu, Norton Childrens Medical Group, Prevention & Wellness

When is the flu or COVID-19 an emergency for kids?

It’s 2 a.m. and your child has a high fever. The signs of the flu are there, or is it COVID-19? At that point, a parent’s thoughts can race: “Should I call the pediatrician or go to the emergency department?” Take an inventory of what your child looks like and how they are acting based…

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COVID19, Flu, Norton Childrens Medical Group, Prevention & Wellness

Once school starts, there will be more than 1 virus to take steps to avoid

There will be more than one virus to take steps to avoid as schools reopen. Kids have always brought home germs, viruses and bacteria that could make their sick day a sick day for you too. COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, has symptoms that overlap with flu. Understand the symptoms of each. If…

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Flu, Norton Childrens Medical Group

Influenza B can be severe in children

Two forms of influenza typically circulate each season: influenza A and influenza B, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can be severe in children. The flu vaccine typically protects against strains of both influenza A and influenza B strain. Because flu viruses mutate from the time the vaccine is configured,…

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