How to Distinguish Common Flu and Serious Flu in Children

Children often experience sore throat, cough and high fever. Fever can be a symptom of various illnesses, including flu, laryngitis, or viral infection. Some bacterial infections, like strep throat or pneumonia, can also look like flu or cold. Flu was more of many kinds, from bird flu to swine flu.So a lot of parents are often difficult to distinguish the common cold and serious flu in their children. Although serious flu usually cause more serious symptoms that make someone feel worse than common cold, but it is not always easy to distinguish between both of flu.

To be able to distinguish the child has a common cold or serious flu, it is necessary to understand the symptoms guide. Here are some guidelines to distinguish the difference between common cold and more serious flu :

Common flu symptoms include:

• Ill start slowly
• Mild fever or no fever 
• Mild fatigue 
• No headache or mild headache
• Normal appetite
• No complaints on the muscle
• No chills

More serious flu symptoms, such as:

• Sudden illness
• High fever 
• Severe fatigue 
• Headache 
• Decreased appetite 
• Stiffness 
• Shiver

However, do not be too quick to conclude about the type of flu that occurs in your children. Because flu symptoms can vary on each child, and symptoms may change with disease progression. So if your child experience some flu symptoms, immediately take the child to the doctor.

Sometimes doctors also require investigation to establish an accurate diagnosis of flu. It's important to get medical attention immediately if the child has more severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, high fever, severe headache, or sore throat.

Children with certain medical conditions can also have a higher risk. Some children with chronic medical conditions may become sicker with the flu and need to be hospitalized, and flu can also be dangerous in infants.

For children with severe flu symptoms or with other special circumstances, the doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication that can ease flu symptoms.