Baby with the flu

 Baby with the flu - what to do?

The flu is already a boring and uncomfortable disease for us adults. Now, imagine for our little ones who can't say what they're feeling and end up getting irritated with the malaise. When we notice our baby has the flu, we feel anxious, don't we? Even more first-time mothers, who are not sure how to act.

What to do with a baby that has the flu

The best thing to do when you notice the baby has the flu is to stay calm, as the flu or the cold will not cause major complications other than discomfort and difficulty in breastfeeding due to a stuffy nose. 

How to treat baby flu

It is good for the mother to prepare herself, because soon she will be an expert in the subject of flu babies, since children get, on average, 3 to 6 cold or flu times per year and this will occur until they are 5 years old, a period in which their immune system will be stronger. Normally, the flu goes away on its own as the days go by, but some measures can be taken to alleviate the baby's discomfort, such as:

• Let him sleep with his head higher than the rest of his body. That way breathing will be a little better, in addition to relieving the stuffy nose.

• Keep the baby's nose always clean with a nasal aspirator and saline solution. You can use the dropper or the spray.

• If it's more than 6 months old and started introducing food, offer fruits rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, gossip, kiwi, strawberries, guava and papaya. Also important is the supply of water for hydration.

It's good to be careful with bottles, pacifiers and cups, which must be sterilized after each use. Hand hygiene is also recommended, which must always be performed before picking up the child. This will help speedy recovery by keeping other viruses and bacteria out of the baby's reach.

Baby Coughing the Flu?

Yes, it's normal for a baby with the flu to cough, that's because the flu is an infection of the respiratory tract, caused by a variety of viruses that are transmitted through droplets of saliva expelled via sneezing and coughing that end up being aspirated by people around. 

Another means of transmission is through the hands that receive the virus with each cough and sneeze when protecting yourself, so it is essential to wash your hands well , especially when picking up a baby or child. 

Why Cough Occurs

As the virus affects the airways, coughing occurs as a way of combating and eliminating the attacking agents. You should only be concerned and see a pediatrician if the symptoms persist for more than 5 days , if the lungs are full of phlegm or if the fever is higher than 38 degrees. 

With these symptoms, it is advisable to visit a pediatrician and, if necessary, he will recommend an X-ray of the lung to see the intensity of the phlegm and check the possibility of something more serious. If the little lung is full, care should be redoubled with the baby with the flu, because if not treated correctly, it could progress to pneumonia and the situation would get even worse 2 . 

Treatment

The ideal treatment for each baby varies and will be indicated by the pediatrician after consultation and exams. No medication should be offered without a medical prescription 3 . In the case of a baby with the flu, treatment is usually based on saline solution to clean the nostrils and antipyretic in case of fever.

See also: How to Lower Children's Fever?