How can you tell if your baby or child has flu compared to any other virus. And more importantly how do you know when it’s serious enough to seek medical help, especially if you are new to parenting?

Well, it’s not easy, as many symptoms resemble the common cold but flu typically presents with more severe symptoms, comes on more suddenly and is less likely to include a stuffy or runny nose.

Look out for these signs of flu in your baby or child:-

• High fever that often comes on suddenly – typically 38 degrees C or above
• Body aches
• Breathlessness or rapid breathing
• Very tired
• Cough, sore throat
• Headache
• Not taking usual feeds

Although it can be really unpleasant to see your child poorly with flu, many fit and healthy children and young adults will manage at home with rest, fluids and paracetamol/ibuprofen as needed.

Watch this excellent NHS video with Dr Ranj Singh explaining how to look after a baby or child with fever at home and when to call for medical help. It gives some great tips such as.

• To measure a fever at home, you can use an electronic, chemical dot or infrared tympanic (ear) thermometer.
• Offer your child regular fluids or breast milk if breast feeding and look out for signs of dehydration such as less wet nappies.
• Let your child rest and keep then away from school or nursery.
• Give paracetamol. This can be used in conjunction with ibruprofen if your child remains distressed before the next dose is due.
• Please don’t try to reduce your baby’s fever by undressing them or sponging them with water, overdressing them and avoid giving honey to babies under 1 year old.

But when do you need to get medical help?

Call your GP practice urgently (or 111 if out of hours) if your baby or child has any of the following:-

• A fever for 5 consecutive days
• Fever is over 38 degrees C in babies under 3 months
• Fever is over 39 degrees C in babies aged 3-6 months old
• Symptoms are not getting any better after 7 days
• Baby has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more
• Not managing to drink or keep fluids down
• Is more short of breath than usual
• Has sunken eyes.

Call 999 or go to A&E if your child has any of these symptoms as they may be signs of sepsis:-

• Difficult to wake, limp or floppy
• Working hard to breathe, making grunting noises or breathing very fast
• Cannot say more than a few words at once
• Is pulling in at their throat (tracheal tug)
• Skin or lips are pale, grey, blue or mottled
• They have a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed
• Your child has an underlying problem with their immune system
• Has green, bloody or back vomit
• Bulging soft spot on their head
• Confused or stiff neck.

As always trust your instinct and if you are worried then get your baby or child checked by your GP.

Keep a particular close eye on children under 5 if you think they have flu as they are at the highest risk of needing hospital admission.