The flu is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs caused by flu viruses (influenza A and influenza B). While the flu typically causes mild symptoms, it can be severe enough to cause hospitalization in people who are otherwise healthy. People most often get the flu in the winter and early spring.
The flu can be very serious, especially for young children and children who have chronic lung or heart conditions or immune deficiencies. These conditions include asthma or other lung problems, diabetes, weakened immune systems, kidney disease, heart problems and neuromuscular disorders. It may be harder for children with these conditions to fight influenza.
Flu spreads mainly from person to person through contact with fluids when people cough, sneeze or talk. Infection may happen if a person touches something with flu viruses on it and then touches their mouth, nose or eyes.
Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Symptoms may also include vomiting and diarrhea.
Even children who have always been healthy or had the flu before can get a severe case of flu. Call or take your child to a doctor right away if your child of any age:
People who are sick with the flu are most likely to spread the illness from one day before getting sick until one day after the fever goes away. But it is possible to spread illness for up to seven days after getting sick.
Do not send a child with the flu to daycare or school. Your child should stay home to rest and to avoid giving the flu to other children.
Keep your child home from school, daycare or camp for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. (The fever should be gone without the help of a fever-reducing medicine.) A fever is defined as an oral temperature of 100.4°F (37.8°C) or above.
Medicines are available to treat flu. But these medicines need to be prescribed by a doctor. Most people get better without medicines, so doctors mainly use these medicines in people who are in the hospital or are at high risk of developing severe flu infections.
The main goal is to make your child feel comfortable by giving acetaminophen (like Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (like Advil®, Motrin® or Aleve®) and lots of fluids. If your child is otherwise healthy and the fever does not go away after two to three days, or you think they are getting worse, contact your doctor.
In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a prophylaxis, which is a medicine that can help stop the flu after a person is exposed to it. This medicine may be given to prevent flu in young children (older than 3 months and younger than 24 months of age), children who cannot receive a vaccination or have a chronic medical condition, or people who live with others at high risk of complications from the flu due to chronic medical conditions. It is important to remember that receiving a medication to prevent the flu is not a substitute for the flu vaccine.
Everyone in your household should receive a flu vaccine to protect themselves from getting the flu. The CDC recommends that all children over 6 months of age be vaccinated unless there is a specific reason they cannot receive the vaccine. Caregivers of children with health conditions or of children less than 6 months of age should get vaccinated. Pregnant women should be vaccinated because research shows that the baby is protected both while the woman is pregnant and for a few months after the baby is born.
Take these steps to help stop the spread of flu viruses:
Washing hands with soap and running water (for as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song) will help protect against many germs. When soap and running water are not available, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used (the gels should be rubbed into your hands until they are dry).
Last Updated 10/2025
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