Cold and Flu among Children - Know the Differences?
1/16/2018 2:26:59 PM
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