By Michelle Moskowitz
Sentinel Contributor
While kids embrace the beautiful, crisp fall weather, it’s also that time of year when runny noses and coughs begin to kick into high gear.
But with the onset of the flu season upon us, as well as an increase in those affected by seasonal allergies, many parents are unsure whether the symptoms their kids present are simply a cold, the flu, or a flare up of allergies.
This reporter consulted Dr. Paul Juan of Valley Pediatrics, a well-respected pediatrician serving Greenwich families for the past 20 years, about how parents can ascertain which symptoms correlate with which illness.
Dr. Juan recommends the following baseline of symptoms but recommends scheduling an appointment with your pediatrician if questions arise:
For allergies: Kids can experience itchy eyes, itching on the roof of mouth, allergic “shiner” around the eyes, fever, mucous cough—all recurrent at the same time of the year.
For the common cold: It usually starts with a fever, runny nose, congestion and a mucous cough.
For the flu: Kids can experience fever, body aches, headache, generalized chills and significant fatigue.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), getting an annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect your family and reduce illnesses and missed school days.
Some studies have shown that getting a flu shot too early in the season may not last for the duration of the winter, thus not offering the best protection possible.
Dr. Juan recommends that parents have their children get the flu vaccine at the end of October or early November.
This flu season, only injectable flu shots are recommended for use, but the good news is that the vaccines have been updated to more specifically target circulating viruses.
