About 5 percent to 20 percent of people in the U.S. will get the flu this year.* The flu is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. It can cause mild to severe illness—and can even lead to death. There are several different types of the flu in the U.S. Our flu FAQ and flu slide show offers helpful information about the illness including prevention, symptoms and treatment.
Does My Child Have the Flu?
Information to help parents assess a child's condition:
Get Vaccinated
Protect yourself and your family by getting a yearly flu vaccine. A vaccine is created every year to protect you from multiple strains of this season’s viruses. This means each person in your family will only need one vaccine to protect them from the flu.
Vaccines for Young Children
The vaccine is for everyone age 6 months and older. The vaccine is safe for children. Everyone in your family must get vaccinated to protect children who are too young to get the vaccine.
If your child is younger than age 9 and has never received a flu vaccine, he will need two vaccine doses to be protected.
Physicians
Children’s has created a tool kit to help community practitioners during flu season.
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011