Connecticut Children's Medical Center

09/20/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/20/2024 07:42

Trending Now Ask a Pediatrician: How Can I Tell if My Child Has the Flu or COVID-19

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With flu season here, Connecticut Children'sinfectious disease pediatricianJohn R. Schreiber, MD, MPH, fields an important question: is it the flu or COVID-19?

How can I tell if my child's symptoms are from the flu or COVID?

Dr. Schreiber: You'll need a doctor's help - and in many cases, a test - to know for sure.

Why? Influenza is a different respiratory virus from COVID-19, but it can look very similar. Both flu and COVID-19 can cause severe symptoms, mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all.

For both flu and COVID, kids might have any of the following signs and symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Fatigue
  • Chills
  • Body aches
  • Sore throat
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Headache
  • Vomiting or diarrhea

Unfortunately, there are no tell-tale signs for the flu versus COVID.

COVID-19 may cause a change or loss of taste or smell, which is uncommon in regular flu. Shortness of breath is more common with COVID-19 than with flu, and a runny nose is more common with flu than COVID-19 - but either is possible with both illnesses.

Bottom line? If you think your child might be sick, keep them home and call their doctor.

Your child's pediatrician will help you decide what to do next, and may recommend a COVID test.

If your child still needs their flu shot, call your child's pediatrician right now to schedule.

We all need to take steps to prevent complications from illness by getting flu shots, washing hands, and staying at home if we might be sick.

Stay safe and healthy.

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