How can I tell whether my child has a cold or the flu?
When our little ones get sick, it’s a difficult time. While colds can develop gradually, the flu normally hits quite suddenly and makes your child look and seem noticeably sicker. Here are some key symptoms, treatments and signs your child should see a doctor.
These are common symptoms of both colds and flu1
- Coughs
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Nasal congestion
Whereas these symptoms of flu may occur in children2
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Shivering
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
What should I do?
✔ Keep your child warm, comfortable and hydrated
✔ Use over-the-counter pain reliefand anti-inflammatories as recommended by your Pharmacist
✔ Record the time and mL of each dose given. This helps avoid confusion, particularly when you are sleep-deprived or balancing multiple medicines and children.
✖ Don’t give cough medicines if your child is under six1
✖ Only use over-the-counter nasal products if directed2
When should I see a doctor?
Your Pharmacist is a key ally to help you manage your child’s cold and flu. As you get to know them, this familiarity gives added confidence when treating your child’s symptoms. However, there are times your child should see a doctor:
See a doctor immediately if your child is under three months old and has a fever.
Also see your doctor if your child:2
- has coughing symptoms which may be caused by asthma
- is unusually lethargic
- develops a rash or change in skin colour
- has a rash which does not fade after you press against it
- has trouble breathing, or is wheezing
- can’t or won’t drink fluids
- cannot keep fluids down
- has a bad headache
- isn’t passing urine
- is very irritable
- has a high or recurring fever
- has worsening symptoms