Get Ready for the Upcoming Flu Season

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CLEVELAND - September 17 is Get Ready for Flu Day.

If your little ones haven’t been vaccinated yet for the upcoming flu season, this is a good reminder.

But, it’s not the only step you should take to prevent illness.

“I think the simple things are really simple to help prevent cold and flu. Things like washing your hands, avoiding touching your nose, mouth and eyes, certainly if there are people with sickness around,” said Adam Keating, MD, pediatrician for Cleveland Clinic Children’s. “And for the good of everybody around you, if you are feeling sick, staying away or mitigating the exposure for other people by staying home, particularly if you have a fever, for at least 24 hours.”

Dr. Keating said the flu is typically spread through respiratory droplets, so when a person sneezes, coughs or talks.

Symptoms of the virus tend to vary and may include fever, cough, body aches, fatigue, runny nose, and sore throat.

In most cases, the flu will resolve on its own with rest and rehydration.

However, there are medications available if needed.

And it’s not just the flu parents need to watch out for in the coming months, but RSV and COVID too.

Both are just as contagious.

The good news, though, is there are vaccines available.

“The recommendations are for all children six months and up to get an updated COVID vaccine when it rolls out,” said Dr. Keating. “And while we’re talking about this for our littlest patients, the RSV vaccine for either moms or infants is something that became available last year and is going to be important for this fall as well.”

Dr. Keating also notes if you have a child in pre-school or kindergarten, don’t be alarmed if they seem to be getting sick a lot.

He said they can get between 10 and 12 viral infections in a year.