Is my child who has asthma at higher risk for flu-related complications?

Anyone with asthma is at higher risk for flu-related complications, such as pneumonia. Along with everyone else, if your child has asthma you should:

• Follow an updated, written Asthma Action Plan developed with your doctor. Follow this plan for daily treatment and for controlling your asthma symptoms.
   
• Make sure that his or her updated, written Asthma Action Plan is on file at school and/or at the child care center. Be sure that the plan and medication(s) are easy to get to when needed.
   
• Everyone with asthma who is older than 6 months should get a flu shot every year to protect against the seasonal flu. Children aged 6 months to 8 years who never have had a seasonal flu shot may need two doses the first time. Persons with asthma should not use the inhaled "FluMist®" vaccine.
   
• Certain antiviral drugs, prescribed by health care professionals, are medicines that fight the flu virus by stopping it from growing in your body. They make you feel better faster and may prevent serious flu problems. Flu treatments work best if they start within two days of when you get flu-like illness.
   
• Persons with flu infections might also get bacterial infections. These persons will also need to take antibiotics to fight the bacterial infection. Some signs of bacterial infection are severe or prolonged illness, or illness that seems to get better but then gets worse.
   
• Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or teenagers who have the flu. This can cause a rare, but serious, illness called Reye’s syndrome.

Last Updated: 09/15/2009

• Seasonal Flu
  • Flu Complications
    • At Risk for Complications
• Special Patients
  • Children