Understanding the H1N1 Virus

The H1N1 virus, or swine flu, is a viral infection characterized by coughing, sore throat, runny nose, fever, muscle pain, headache and chills. Symptoms usually begin four to six days after exposure to the virus.

Treating the H1N1 Virus

Appropriate treatment depends on the symptoms. As with other viral respiratory infections, make sure to keep your child hydrated and use the following guide to help alleviate symptoms:

• Fever or aches — Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain or fever higher than 102°F. Children and adolescents with influenza should never take aspirin, and antibiotics are not helpful. Fever should subside within three days.
• Cough — Children older than age six can have cough drops. If your child is older than one year, give honey or corn syrup (1/2 to 1 teaspoon) as needed (never give honey to babies). Cough medicines are not as helpful as honey and are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children under age four. Coughing should not last longer than three weeks.
• Sore throat — Tylenol or ibuprofen is very helpful for throat pain. Children over age six can have hard candy. Children older than one year old can sip warm chicken broth.
• Stuffy nose — Saline or warm water nose drops followed by suction or nose blowing often relieve congestion. You can buy saline spray without a prescription or make saline nose drops by adding 1/2 teaspoon of table salt to one cup of warm water. The congestion should clear up within two weeks.
• Antiviral medicine (such as Tamiflu) — The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend prescription antiviral medicines for high-risk children (see below) with H1N1 symptoms. Antiviral medicines must be taken within 48 hours of the start of flu symptoms to provide relief.
• High-risk children — Children are considered at high risk for complications if they have lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, sickle cell disease, kidney disease, cancer, weakened immune system or diseases requiring long-term aspirin therapy. Pregnant teens and healthy children under age two also are at high risk.

Preventing H1N1

The best way to protect your family from the H1N1 virus is to receive the vaccination. Since the virus is highly contagious, frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your arm and staying home if you have a fever can help prevent the spread of the virus.

To learn the top 10 questions parents are asking about the H1N1 virus, visit www.childrenscolorado.org.