The swine flu can result in relatively mild symptoms in babies, toddlers, and young children, which resolve in under a week. In other cases, however, H1N1 in babies or other kids can be a serious situation that requires emergency medical care. It is important for parents to understand the difference between mild symptoms and severe symptoms, and to communicate with the child's pediatrician in order to prevent serious swine flu complications in infants.
CDC Recommends Vaccination to Protect Infants
The CDC recommends vaccination for all infants over the age of six months in order to prevent infection with the swine flu virus. The recommended dose for babies from six months to 35 months is a .25 mL injection, followed by another .25 mL injection approximately one month later. Toddlers of 24 months and up can also be vaccinated with the intranasal, or inhaled vaccine. Infants under the age of six months old can only be protected by ensuring that they are not exposed to the H1N1 virus.
Mild H1N1 Symptoms in Babies
Babies that are afflicted with a mild case of the H1N1 flu, or the seasonal flu, will often suffer from the same symptoms. Aches, pains, and fever will make the infant cranky. Sinus congestion or a runny nose makes it difficult for an infant to drink as much milk or formula as normal, and fussing while eating is also common in a baby with the flu. Babies with the flu also tend to be tired and need more rest. Due to the potential severity of the swine flu in an infant, any flu symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor.
Swine Flu Complications in Infants
The sinus problems that cause the difficulty an infant experiences during drinking milk or formula can result in dehydration, which is very dangerous for a baby. A dry diaper, or lack of urination is a typical sign of dehydration. It can be difficult to tell how much a baby is urinating when using disposable diapers, due to the extreme absorbency they offer. Using cloth diapers during illness allows parents to see how many times an infant is urinating during a particular time-frame. A baby that cries, but does not produce tears, or a sunken fontanel (soft spot) on the head of an infant are other signs of dehydration.
In addition to dehydration, a baby that is experiencing H1N1 flu complications may be unresponsive, or may be so irritable that he does not want to be held. Difficulty breathing, vomiting that doesn't stop, coughing and choking on phlegm, or a blue or gray color to the skin are all other signs of flu complications that require immediate medical assistance.
References:
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
University of Iowa Children's Hospital
Victoria Nicks - Victoria Nicks has a Master's Degree in IT, and extensive hands-on experience with various types of hardware and software.
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