With the school year now in full swing and colder weather slowly but surely sneaking up on us, it’s time to start thinking about preparing for cold and flu season and we’ve got you covered. In this article, you’ll hear from Dr. Divya Pubbi, a Physician with Nemours Children’s Health, as she answers key questions regarding how to stay safe and healthy during the fall and winter months. Dr. Pubbi had so much to say about this topic that we had to write two articles about it – read Part 2 HERE!

We also have an upcoming discussion on this important topic with Dr. Pubbi as the headline panelist! We welcome you to join our free, upcoming webinar at 6pm on Wednesday, September 25th, 2024: Cold & Flu Season Survival Guide: Tips for Protecting Your Family and Child.

What are the most common misconceptions families have about cold and flu prevention?

The first misconception is that there is nothing you can do. This actually isn’t true because the number one thing we can do to prevent illness is hand washing. I think that, especially for some of our younger kids, introducing this habit now while we’re early in the season is so important. So before we eat anything, or after we are done playing outside or with siblings, washing our hands is something we should definitely do so that we’re not taking any germs back into our bodies.

The second misconception we hear a lot is how kids can get sick. We often hear parents worrying that their kid got sick because they went outside with wet hair, or had a cold snack, like a popsicle, instead of something warm. These aren’t necessarily things that cause colds or cases of flu. 

What are the early signs parents should watch for during cold and flu season and how can parents distinguish between mild symptoms (like a common cold) and more serious illnesses?

When it comes to early signs of illness, things that we often see can be pretty across the board. Some common signs can include mild congestion, a runny nose, a mild cough, or an even more severe cough that starts right away. Additionally, kids might seem like they just don’t want to eat as much or they’re not acting quite like themselves. Maybe they’re having a little bit less energy than usual or they just want to sit and cuddle, especially our younger kids who may be more inclined to just be running around. We also can see fevers as an early sign. It is not uncommon for a parent to simply feel their child and know that they feel a bit warm. In that case, you’ll probably want to check for a true temperature. We think of fevers as anything 100.4 degrees or higher. Kids can also get body and muscle aches as an early sign. They may say that their “whole body hurts” or that they feel really hot, cold, or just sweaty compared to how they normally feel. 

When talking about how to compare a mild versus severe illness, this is also in reference to when it may be a good time to see a doctor. To start, if you are seeing fevers or those really hot temperatures lasting for several days (3 or 4), and your child is not starting to feel any better, you’ll want to see a doctor to make sure everything looks okay. Another reason to potentially consider a visit to the doctor would be if your kid is not drinking very well or if they do not want to eat. A doctor would want to make sure they are not seeing any signs of dehydration. For younger kiddos, in terms of diapers, I’m thinking at least three wet diapers a day. If you notice that they are starting to drop below that number, they definitely need to be seen. 

Another big thing to keep in mind is staying proactive with kids who have other illnesses/chronic conditions like asthma. If you are finding that a child with a condition like that seems like they are having their usual flares and were given some medicine like albuterol, I may want to see them in my office sooner rather than later. 

Lastly, any kid who seems that their symptoms are lasting a little longer than expected should see a doctor. Colds and flus typically last between 3 to 4 days, but may also persist to around a week. If your child is hitting that week mark and do not seem to be feeling any better, it’s probably a good idea to be seen to make sure there’s not something more severe going on.

BONUS QUESTION: If at all, what are the distinctions between seasonal allergy symptoms versus those that are more cold or flu-like?

This is something I like to talk about a lot because the symptoms do look really similar. You can absolutely have cold symptoms that look like seasonal allergies. Common symptoms such as runny nose, congestion, and cough from a postnasal drip can kind of be from both, unfortunately, and it may not be as obvious as “Oh, this is definitely seasonal allergies or this is definitely a cold.”

If you or your child are someone who has a consistent allergy history around this time of year, start taking those allergy medicines. If you are not noticing a change in symptoms, then visit a doctor who can take a listen and a look to see if your symptoms are more than just seasonal allergies. 

However, if you are someone who has never had seasonal allergies, there are still ways to discern if your symptoms are allergy-related or not. A doctor may consider your symptoms to be allergy-related and start you on an allergy medicine, but if you come in and tell them that the whole family is feeling under the weather and everyone started their symptoms around the same time, then your symptoms are less likely to be allergy-related.

About Dr. Pubbi

Dr. Divya Pubbi is a general outpatient pediatrician at the Nemours Foulk Road office. She loves working with all ages from newborns all the way through our teenagers who are on their way into college or starting their careers. Her favorite part of the day is the time she gets to spend with her patients and families. Dr. Pubbi loves watching her patients grow and progress physically and mentally through the years.  She is passionate about the care we are able to provide and training a new generation of doctors to do the same.

ESF Camps & Experiences has spent 40+ years designing summer experiences that develop the whole child. Our programs are built in partnership with Nemours Children’s Health and grounded in pediatric research on resilience, social-emotional learning, and child development.