Will my child be given medicine if he is diagnosed with the flu?
Not necessarily. The most current recommendations for treating influenza do not include everyone.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends treatment with an anti-viral medication for the following groups of people:
- Hospitalized patients
- Children under the age of 2
- People over the age of 65
- Pregnant and postpartum women
- People with certain chronic medical problems
If your child is over the age of 2 and contracts influenza, your pediatrician will determine the severity of illness and if medication is necessary. Of course, the best way to prevent the flu is with an annual influenza vaccine!
Reviewed by Dr. Sara Connolly, January 2020
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