Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 11.0

Influenza is a disease caused by viruses. Each winter many people get influenza. Influenza causes a fever, muscle aches, sore throat, cough, and tiredness that may last for several days. The disease can usually be prevented by getting a vaccination, commonly called a flu shot. Healthy children who get influenza recover without serious problems, so flu shots are usually not given to children. Some children, however, have more trouble recovering from influenza.

Children who need an annual flu shot include those with long-term (chronic) disease such as:

• Asthma or other lung disease
• Congenital heart disease with defects that require medications or surgery or other heart disease
• Glomerulonephritis, kidney failure, or other kidney disease
• Diabetes or other metabolic disease
• Sickle cell disease or other anemia
• Immune system problems caused by a disease or medication
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or any other disease needing aspirin therapy.

If you have an otherwise healthy child and want your child to avoid getting influenza, your child may have a flu shot.

Other people who should have a flu shot include:

• People over 65 years of age or older
• Women who will be in the fourth to ninth month(s) of pregnancy during the influenza season
• Residents of nursing homes or chronic care facilities.

An influenza shot can be given at the same time as any other routine vaccine. Your child should get the shot between September and mid-November, if possible. Protection from the influenza virus usually lasts only for 1 year.

For more information about the vaccine, ask your doctor for an Influenza Vaccine Information Statement. If your child has an allergy to eggs or a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome, talk to the doctor about these problems before getting the flu shot.