Next Steps

Prevention

• Hand washing with soap and water or an alcohol hand gel is an important way to prevent picking up a flu virus. Avoid touching the mouth, nose, or eyes prior to handwashing.



• Vaccination is the mainstay of flu prevention. The killed flu vaccine (a flu shot) should be given during the fall. In children, the flu vaccine can be given to children older than 6 months and in 2 separate doses for children younger than 9 years who have not been previously vaccinated.



• The flu vaccine is also available as a nasal spray (FluMist) for healthy children aged 5 years or older, adolescents, and adults aged 49 years or younger. Children aged 5-8 years who have not received the flu vaccine as a nasal spray before require 2 doses about 2 months apart. Children who take aspirin should not receive the live vaccine.



• Keep children with the flu at home while the fever lasts. Once the fever is gone, children may return to school and daycare.