Cold and Flu among Children - Know the Differences?

Influenza in children is progressive, aggressive, causing serious complications, and can create an influenza pandemic. There is a vaccine for influenza. Have you got yourself and your children vaccinated this year?

COLD

• Caused by virus/bacteria
• Common symptoms in the upper respiratory tract: sneezing, runny nose (watery nasal secretions), nasal congestion, sore throat, fever, aches and pains -->> bacterial/viral upper respiratory infection
• Few severe or dangerous complications
• Symptoms often improve without special treatments.
• There is no vaccine for cold.

FLU/INFLUENZA

• Caused by certain strains of virus: A; B, C (H1N1, H5N1… HnNn)
• Cold-like symptoms but more progressive, aggressive and severe
• Severe and dangerous complications, including pneumonia, multiple organ failures; can cause an influenza pandemic
• There is vaccine and medicine for influenza

VACCINATION PROGRAM

• 6-month-old children will start getting vaccinated:
  * 1st injection: 6-month old
  * 2nd injection: 4 weeks after the 1st injection
  * one injection every year onwards
• > 9-month-old children and adults: yearly vaccination