WINTER SEASON DISEASES

WINTER  SEASON DISEASES

When most people think of winter illnesses, they think of the flu--and with good reason. Flu is a very common cause of both mild and severe childhood illness in the winter. Influenza activity typically peaks in the U.S. between late December and mid-February. The good news is that almost all cases of influenza are preventable. The bad news (at least for the 2004-2005 winter) is that, while the most effective means of prevention is the influenza vaccine, flu vaccine supplies have come up short.

The current season’s lack of influenza vaccine has been a concern to health officials, a headache to pediatricians, and a worry to many parents. Fortunately, while vaccine supplies have been curtailed, there has been a sufficient supply to immunize high-risk children (all children aged 6 months to two years, and older children with risk factors for severe influenza, including asthma, congenital heart disease and immune deficiencies) and their parents. For healthy children who have not been immunized, influenza can lead to a week of missed school and a lot of coughing and vomiting, but is rarely life-threatening. While antiviral agents are available to treat influenza, they are of modest benefit and are not often used in children. 

Every year around this time, we pediatricians start to see a steady stream of sniffling, coughing, feverish children. Still, many parents wonder whether they really need to be bringing their children in for garden-variety winter illnesses. Should they be concerned, or will the problem resolve on its own? How long should they wait before bringing the child to see us?

Below, Duke pediatrician Dr. Kenneth Alexander discusses the most common seasonal illnesses, and shares sound advice to help parents cope.