With the rainy season coinciding with the start of the new school year, children are especially vulnerable to the flu virus

The monsoon is the favourite season of the influenza virus, aka the flu, to spread.Damp, humid weather conditions and fluctuating temperatures= create a breeding ground for influenza viruses. Though it’s treatable, it can lead to hospitalizations, complications, and even fatalities. With the rainy season coinciding with the start of the new school year, children are especially vulnerable to the flu virus.

PW’s Kiran Balimane spoke with Dr. Tarun Singh, consultant pediatrician and neonatologist at Kalpavriksh Healthcare, New Delhi and Pediamedics Healthcare, Sonipat, on effective ways to prevent and treat influenza/flu.

“Unlike many viruses, influenza is highly adaptive. Each year brings new strains due to antigenic drift. Annual vaccination, respiratory hygiene, and public health measures can significantly reduce this risk,” says Dr. Singh.

 

Symptoms

• Influenza causes sudden high fever, fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, dry cough, and chills. It is more severe than the common cold.
• It spreads via respiratory droplets, contaminated surfaces, and sometimes even through asymptomatic carriers.

Children are often the primary carriers of flu viruses in the community. Schools, playgrounds, and close contact with peers create the perfect environment for transmission. Pediatric flu can cause high fever with febrile seizures, ear infections, viral pneumonia and secondary bacterial infections.

Vaccination

The cornerstone of flu prevention is the annual influenza vaccine, recommended for individuals above six months of age. This quadrivalent vaccine protects against most common circulating strains and should ideally be taken before the season begins. Especially, in India, the flu season typically follows a bimodal pattern: the primary peak is from August to October, following the monsoon, especially in northern and central India. A secondary peak is observed from December to February, particularly in the north. This pattern is influenced by post-monsoon humidity and seasonal crowding during winter. Health experts recommend to take the flu vaccination between June and August to ensure immunity ahead of the primary surge.

According to the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu vaccination reduces the risk of illness by 40-60 percent. It also reduces the severity of illness and risk of hospitalization.

 

Vaccination is specially advised for:

• Children under 5 (especially below 2 years)
• Adults over 65 years
• People diagnosed with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or weakened immunity
• Pregnant women
• Healthcare professionals

 

Preventive measures

The flu virus can be prevented by practising simple respiratory hygiene:

• Wash hands frequently with soap/sanitizers
• Avoid touching the face
• Cover mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing
• Wear masks in crowded or poorly ventilated places
• Isolate patients when symptomatic
• Improve home ventilation and disinfect floor surfaces regularly

 

Building children’s immunity

While vaccines provide protection, boosting children’s natural immunity is the best way to build resilience and stamina to stave off infections.

• Ensure children eat a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and foods rich in zinc and vitamin C
• Give children warm fluids to maintain mucosal health, which plays a vital role in preventing flu and other respiratory infections
• Ensure adequate sleep and rest, as fatigue weakens immunity
• Encourage children to exercise regularly to boost blood circulation and shore up body defences
• Provide supportive, stress-free home environments as chronic stress impairs immune response to viruses.