PullmanPublic Schools

What is Influenza (Flu)?

Influenza, or flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe symptoms and life-threatening complications, including death, even in healthy children and adults.  

There are two main types of influenza (flu) viruses: types A and B. The influenza A and B viruses that routinely spread in people are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year. The best way to reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications is by getting vaccinated each year.

Learn More About Influenza 

Caring for Your Child's Cold or Flu

Unfortunately, there is no cure for the common cold. Antibiotics may be used to fight bacterial infections, but they have no effect on the influenza virus. The best you can do is to make your child comfortable:

Preventative Actions

• Take time to get a flu vaccine. The CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Flu vaccines help to reduce the burden of flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths on the healthcare system each year. Vaccines are especially important for people in high-risk groups (see above).

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If your child is sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

• Teach your child/children to cover their coughs and sneezes by covering their nose and mouth with a tissue and disposing of the tissue when done. 

• Wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with viruses that cause the flu.

• If your child is infected with the flu, they will need to stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine. Pullman Public Schools: When to Stay Home From School.

Influenza Vaccine Information

It is recommended that everyone 6 months and older in the United States should get the influenza (flu) vaccine every season. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help reduce the risk of getting the flu and any of its potentially serious complications.

Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits, including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and even the risk of flu-related death. While some people who get a flu vaccine may still get sick with influenza, flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce the severity of illness.