January 13, 2015 – Pediatric Flu Death

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Anchor lead:  A concerning number of children have died as a result of this year’s flu, Elizabeth Tracey reports

More than 20 children have died so far as a result of this year’s flu epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported, with that number is only likely to go up.  Aaron Milstone, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, says for parents, common sense should prevail.

Milstone: Parents should do the same thing they’ve done for generations.  If their child is febrile they should give them Tylenol or Motrin if that’s helpful, they should make sure their children are drinking and staying well-hydrated, and importantly, they should keep them home if they have a fever and adults should follow those same practices. Especially with kids going back to school after the holidays we really need to contain the virus and sending a sick child to school is putting others at risk. Just as if child is not sick you wouldn’t want them exposed, if your child is the sick one they really should keep them home.   :30

Milstone says if your child is struggling to breath, is dehydrated or lethargic, seek medical attention right away.  At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.