How can you tell the difference between flu and colds in small children?
Often it is not easy to tell a toddler from a cold. The symptoms of various viral diseases in the upper respiratory tract are similar and it is often difficult to distinguish between a serious flu illness and a cold. However, it should be excluded in any case that a toddler is ill with flu if he or she very suddenly develops a fever that rises to more than 38°C over a longer period of time.
In most cases, a runny nose and a dry cough only appear in the course of the flu, whereas these symptoms usually become noticeable in a banal cold well before the onset of fever. Frequently, a cold does not lead to a rise in temperature at all. Influenza in small children is often accompanied by loss of appetite, sore throat and swollen tonsils. Diarrhea and vomiting can also occur.
Influenza symptoms in children, what should be considered?
If a child shows flu symptoms that do not improve within two to three days or if the fever rises and remains above 39°C, a doctor should be consulted. In addition, there are some warning signs for which a doctor should also be consulted immediately, otherwise there is a risk of serious complications. For example, if symptoms such as earache, breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, wheezing or thick green nasal mucus occur in the child, medical treatment must be initiated immediately.In general, a person infected with influenza is already contagious shortly before the first symptoms appear; the ability to become infected usually remains for about a week after that. However, small children can excrete the virus earlier and for a longer period of time than adults and are therefore contagious for longer. Vaccination against the flu pathogen is particularly important for children suffering from a chronic disease and is recommended by the Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute.
