How prevalent is influenza among children? What should parents do to prevent the flu?

With the arrival of autumn and winter, influenza cases are gradually increasing in many places. According to the weekly monitoring report released by the National Influenza Center of China, from October 16 to 22, the positive rate of influenza virus testing in southern provinces continued to rise, while influenza activity in some northern provinces increased slightly.

What is the infection rate of influenza among children? How should parents prevent influenza? A reporter interviewed Zhong Lili, director of the Children's Medical Center at Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, to answer these questions.

Children are more susceptible to influenza than adults.

Zhong Lili explained that influenza, commonly known as flu, is different from the common cold. It specifically refers to an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the influenza virus that poses a serious threat to human health.

"Compared to the common cold, the symptoms of influenza are more severe, and children have the highest infection rate compared to other groups," said Zhong Lili. Influenza mainly manifests as fever, headache, and general malaise, with body temperature reaching 39-40℃. Children's fever is usually higher than that of adults.

According to information released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), family and community-based studies conducted in different countries show that approximately 20%-40% of symptomatic children may experience flu-like symptoms (fever, accompanied by cough or sore throat), while up to half of symptomatic individuals may develop acute upper respiratory symptoms.

“Schools and childcare facilities are collective places where children gather and have close contact. Children’s respiratory systems are not as developed as adults’, and their immune systems are still developing, making them susceptible to influenza. Once there are cases of influenza, it can easily lead to the spread of the disease,” Zhong Lili said.

Children are a high-risk group for severe influenza.

"My child has had a high fever for two days in a row. We give him some medicine to bring it down, but the fever returns as soon as the medicine wears off. The whole family takes turns taking care of him and we can't sleep a wink," said the anxious mother of a 4-year-old boy who came to the doctor.

Zhong Lili explained that this situation is quite common in outpatient clinics now. When a child is sick, at least one parent needs to accompany them. Younger children may require two or even more parents to take care of them, and the costs, time, and energy involved are far higher than for adults.

"Children are not only a susceptible group for influenza, but also a high-risk group for severe influenza. Children under 5 years old are more prone to serious complications, and parents must pay close attention," said Zhong Lili. He added that influenza has a rapid onset, and some patients are prone to developing severe influenza cases due to complications such as pneumonia or worsening of underlying diseases. A small number of critical cases progress rapidly and may result in death due to complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute necrotizing encephalopathy, or plastic bronchiectasis.

She stated that early diagnosis and prompt antiviral treatment are crucial for the treatment of severe cases. Currently, it is both the peak season for mycoplasma pneumonia and the flu season, making case testing, monitoring, patient triage, and reducing cross-infection extremely important.

Zhong Lili specifically reminded parents that when children suddenly develop a fever, especially a high fever, severe systemic symptoms, muscle pain, or a history of contact with flu-like patients, they should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible for relevant examinations and treatment. For severely ill children, it is crucial to actively treat the underlying disease (such as congenital heart disease, chronic lung diseases like asthma, nephrotic syndrome, and congenital immunodeficiency), prevent complications, and provide effective organ function support.

Experts say that getting a flu vaccine can reduce the risk of infection.

Children are at high risk of contracting influenza. Getting a flu vaccine can not only reduce your own risk of infection, illness, and severe illness, but also reduce the risk of infection for other family members.

Regarding influenza vaccination, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed the "Technical Guidelines for Influenza Vaccination in China (2023-2024)" based on the 2022 guidelines. The new guidelines explicitly recommend that all individuals aged 6 months and older without contraindications should receive the influenza vaccine. Priority is given to key and high-risk groups, including healthcare workers, the elderly aged 60 and above, individuals with one or more chronic diseases, children aged 6-59 months, and family members and caregivers of infants under 6 months of age.

Regarding the situation where infants under 6 months of age cannot receive the flu vaccine, Zhong Lili stated that young children have a higher risk of developing severe illness after contracting the flu. Therefore, it is recommended that family members and caregivers also get vaccinated as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection, thereby indirectly protecting infants under 6 months of age. Furthermore, children with underlying conditions such as asthma or other chronic lung diseases, nephrotic syndrome, or congenital immunodeficiency are not necessarily ineligible for vaccination; they can be vaccinated after evaluation by a doctor.

Given that influenza is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets, and can also be spread through direct or indirect contact via the oral and nasal mucosa, Zhong Lili reminds the public to take precautions against influenza, including frequent handwashing, wearing masks when necessary, covering the mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue when sneezing or coughing to avoid infecting others with droplets, and minimizing visits to crowded places during flu season. In addition, daily life should include a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and sufficient sleep to strengthen children's immunity and improve their resistance to disease. Homes should also be well-ventilated to ensure air circulation.