Young children
Q: Is it dangerous for infants and toddlers to catch the new strain of flu?
A: Generally infants and young children can become more severely ill
than adults if they catch the flu. Parents of young children should
therefore contact their doctor if their child shows influenza-like symptoms
such as a fever, respiratory problems and seems generally unwell. The child
may also have the flu even if they do not have a high temperature. Some
children feel nauseous, vomit or have diarrhoea when they catch the flu.
Young children with asthma or other chronic respiratory conditions, diabetes,
heart conditions or other chronic illnesses which compromise their immune
systems are at greater risk of developing complications from the flu.
Children in this category may benefit from preventive treatment with Tamiflu
if someone in their household or someone with whom they have close contact
at school/nursery falls ill with the flu. This should be discussed with the
child’s own treating physician.
Children aged 6 months and over who are at risk of becoming seriously ill
should be vaccinated against the new strain of flu. If the child cannot be
vaccinated it is important to protect the child from infection by ensuring
that those with whom they are in close contact are vaccinated.
Even though many children have contracted the new strain of flu around the
world, there have been very few fatalities among young children.
Q: How can I protect my child as effectively as possible?
A: The most important thing you can do to protect your child from
becoming infected is to be careful with regard to hand and cough hygiene.
You should also keep your child away from other children and adults who are
ill. Older children should be taught to wash their hands before they eat. If
you or someone in your household falls ill, you can also protect your
children by, in addition to hand and cough hygiene, ensuring that the
infected person stays in one room by themselves, by everyone having their
own towel in the bathroom and, as far as possible, by the healthy adult
looking after the youngest children.
If you are breastfeeding your child you can continue to do so even though you
fall ill. Breast-milk is generally good for your child’s ability to fight
infections. Mothers should be especially careful with regard to hand and
cough hygiene to avoid infecting their child. Be particularly alert to any
fever or other symptoms your child may develop.
If your child is older than 6 months and belongs to one of the groups of
people who are at risk of becoming seriously ill, vaccination is also
recommended (see question above). Other children are recommended to be
vaccinated once everyone in the at-risk categories has been offered
vaccination.
Q: Can young children be treated with Tamiflu?
A: Tamiflu should not normally be given to children under one year of
age. The advice of the Norwegian health authorities is based on the
information we have available at any given time. The European Medicines
Agency (EMEA) has concluded that the risk to children under the age of one
posed by pandemic influenza (phase 6) is greater than the risk of
side-effects from the medicines concerned. It could therefore be appropriate
to give Tamiflu to infants both as a treatment for the disease and as a
preventive measure for children with underlying risk factors.
Treatment of children under the age of one will be undertaken only after
careful assessment by a doctor.
Q: Can infants and young children be vaccinated with the new pandemic
vaccine?
A: The vaccine is recommended for children of 6 months and over.
Children under the age of 10 are given half an adult dose (0.25 ml).
[Publisert: 25.11.2009]
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