What should you do if your two year old has been exposed to Swine Flu?

Answer 1

Contact your Pediatrician to find out if taking Tamiflu (antiviral medicine) as a preventive measure would be appropriate. Tell them when and how she was exposed to the virus. Tamiflu can be given to children over one year old.

Contact your doctor to ask if you and other members of the household should also take precautionary antiviral medicine, especially if you have any family at high risk of complications from A-H1N1/09 "Swine Flu" [see related questions below]. Or if you should wait until/if she develops symptoms.

Monitor her closely for symptoms [see related question below], checking temperature regularly. Give plenty of fluids. Do not give aspirin as a fever reducer, use Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or other non-aspirin fever reducer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "in children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Fast breathing or trouble breathing

* Bluish skin color

* Not drinking enough fluids

* Not waking up or not interacting

* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

* Fever with a rash "

Take all precautions and inform all family members how to avoid catching the flu [see related question]. When you must be in close contact, especially if she is coughing and sneezing frequently, consider wearing an approved face mask (N95).

If she develops symptoms, high risk family members may need to go somewhere else while she is ill to avoid exposure. They should not provide her care and should try to stay in areas where she is not frequenting.

Use a disinfectant that includes influenza viruses on its label of pathogens on which it is effective. Follow label directions and use this disinfectant regularly around the house on things she touches and things the rest of the family frequently touch, such as table tops, door knobs, chairs, toys, etc. Teach them proper hand washing, and monitor that everyone is abiding by the guidelines with proper hygiene.

Protect yourself and other members of the family, if you must be in close contact such as during bathing, snuggling, or feeding, where she may cough or sneeze on you, you might want to wear a surgical mask (N95). Wash her hands often as well as yours and other members of the family.

Be familiar with all the potential symptoms, if she does develop symptoms, watch for signs of conditions that require immediate or emergency attention [see related questions below]. Monitor her temperature regularly. Do not give aspirin for fever, use another fever reducer, such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol). Provide plenty of liquids.

Answer 2

I am not a doctor, and you should only take medical advise from a doctor. That being said the flu is a serious illness and you should bring your 2 year old to your doctor immediately. The flu kills a great many people each year, with the very old and very young and persons with preexisting medical conditions (such as AIDS) being most at risk. The flu can last several weeks, and is usually accompanied by a high fever. Your child will need rest, fluids and possibly medicine only a doctor can provide.