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01-01-2013 at 7:50 AM
Shema N
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Joined on 10-04-2012
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Shema N is not online. Last active: 05-20-2013, 8:04 PMNewbie

What happens if a young infant gets the flu???

I’ve asked my pediatricians this question and the only response I get is “we’ll treat the symptoms as they appear”. I’ve looked online and find the same but there must be more.

I’m extraordinarily concerned b/c I’ve been fighting the flu for a little over a week now. (Note that I DID get the flu shot while pregnant. I either received a vaccine that did not target the right strain of the flu OR, according to another relative, the mercury-free version of the vaccine that I got is weak).

I've taken all sorts of precautions around LO: wearing face masks, washing my hands to the point of them being raw, using lysol wipes all over the place, etc.

This morning he sounds congested. He’s sneezing. I’m terrified. I know how horrendous I’ve been feeling. I can take Motrin to calm the horrible headache and body aches. I can use a Neti pot to relieve the suffocating congestion. I can use cough drops to relieve my painful sore throat

WHAT will happen to him if he gets this? It breaks my heart and sends me into a panic just thinking about it.

Does anyone know how else the flu is treated in young infants?

Does anyone have experience with a young baby getting the flu?

My LO is 6 weeks old.
 
01-01-2013 at 8:43 AM
diana.fili...
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Joined on 06-23-2009
Charlottesville, VA
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diana.filipi is not online. Last active: 05-21-2013, 8:52 PMGold
Treatment would likely be the same as for RSV.  If the baby cannot breath or suckle due to congestion they will be hospitalized for IV, hospital grade suction, and monitoring.  You cannot cure the flu with any meds but with the very young, old, or weak you often need to treat the symptoms.

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01-01-2013 at 9:36 AM
SamiandEri...
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SamiandEric913 is not online. Last active: 02-24-2013, 7:17 PMNewbie

I'd just like to chime in by saying that even though you feel crappy like this, it doesn't mean that LO will get the same symptoms to the same extent. He might just get some cold symptoms and then move on.

All you can do is be vigilant about watching his breathing (if it's rapid or labored, get to the doc), temperature, eating habits, and wet diapers. If all these remain normal, chances are good that LO will be fine again very soon. And of course, follow your intuition about when/if to take him in if you just feel like you should.

Hang in there! It's the worst when they are sick!


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01-01-2013 at 11:22 AM
MrsBigTime
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Joined on 03-10-2010
Portland
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MrsBigTime is not online. Last active: 05-22-2013, 2:03 AMBronze

Are you breastfeeding? If so, you're giving him the best weapon against any flu you would have.

Otherwise, just continue to be vigorous about hand washing and not kissing him on the mouth or coughing in his face (I wouldn't wear a face mask, but that's just me).

Babies who get the flu or RSV need to be watched closely for dehydration and breathing issues. If there mucous becomes too thick for them to handle and if they are not able to eat and breathe at the same time, they will need to be hospitalized. We see lots of babies this time of year (in fact, when I stopped by my work - a PICU - to send a fax, 7 of our 9 patients were flu/RSV babies! needless to say, I ran my baby out of there as fast as I could!) and they all need IV fluids and vigorous suctioning with the machine.

Keep up what you're doing mama, he'll probably be fine, truly, so take care of yourself first and foremost, so you can take care of him too. Good luck! 

01-01-2013 at 12:34 PM
Shema N
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Joined on 10-04-2012
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Shema N is not online. Last active: 05-20-2013, 8:04 PMNewbie
Thanks so much for your responses and for support. I didn’t know that his symptoms could potentially be less severe than mine.  He’s definitely much more fussy today but is eating and wetting diapers. I didn’t realize there are hospital grade suctions and that a lot of babies are hospitalized for flu. So it helps to know that. The pediatrician sounded a little too calm/unconcerned which alarmed me more than comforted me. It really is a stressful time of year to have a baby! Sigh.
 
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