How to prevent and take medication during the high influenza season. Experts teach you how to deal with it scientifically.
What should I do if my child vomits after taking flu medicine? Can taking flu medicine prevent the flu? Recently, parents have had some confusion and questions about the treatment of their children’s respiratory infectious diseases. On the 20th, the reporter interviewed a respiratory expert from the Children’s Hospital of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University to answer parents’ questions.
If your child vomits just after taking the medicine, he/she needs to take the full dose.
“The main pathogens of respiratory infectious diseases prevalent in children this winter are rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus and influenza virus. The first three viruses are common and infections occur throughout the year. Symptomatic treatment is required when symptoms occur. . However, as an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza A virus, it is mainly spread by droplets and is highly contagious. In terms of symptoms, it is more serious than the common cold. Patients usually have high fever, sore throat, headache, fatigue, Discomfort symptoms such as coughing and body aches can lead to other complications such as neurological complications in severe cases.” Hou Wei, deputy director of the Department of Pediatric Medicine at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, said that oseltamivir, the first choice anti-influenza virus drug recommended by the guidelines, By affecting the replication process of influenza viruses, it inhibits the proliferation of influenza viruses in the body. Although the common cold and influenza are both acute respiratory diseases, the common cold is most commonly caused by rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus, while influenza is caused by influenza A or B viruses. It is important to note that oseltamivir is not effective against viruses other than influenza. Therefore, it cannot be used to treat common colds or respiratory bacterial infections.
When should oseltamivir be used after influenza is diagnosed? “Use it as early as possible!” Hou Wei said that oseltamivir is an inhibitor of influenza virus neuraminidase. Antiviral treatment within 48 hours of onset can reduce complications, reduce mortality, and shorten hospitalization time. It can be used even if the onset of illness exceeds 48 hours, and can reduce the occurrence of severe illness.
Oseltamivir also has adverse reactions, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and rash. Some parents in the clinic also reported that their children experienced vomiting after taking oseltamivir. Hou Wei suggested that you can choose to take it with food or after meals to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort. Food does not affect the absorption of oseltamivir in the body. There is no problem if you take it before or after meals. Taking it with food can reduce the irritation of the drug to the gastrointestinal tract. Children who are infected with influenza are prone to have gastrointestinal symptoms and may experience nausea and vomiting. Oseltamivir can be added to a small amount of the child’s favorite food and taken together to improve the child’s tolerance to the drug.
So, do I need to take another dose if I experience vomiting? Hou Wei said that oseltamivir capsules: if the child vomits out the capsule shell, it needs to be retaken, otherwise it is not necessary; oseltamivir granules: vomiting within 15 minutes after eating, the full dose needs to be retaken; vomiting within 15 minutes to 30 minutes , take half the dose; if it exceeds 30 minutes, no need to take a supplement.
To avoid recurrence of the condition, do not stop taking medication on your own
As we all know, oseltamivir is usually taken for 5 consecutive days to treat influenza. If the child’s symptoms weaken or even disappear on the 2nd or 3rd day of taking the medicine, some parents will choose to stop the medicine for their children, thinking that “the medicine is only half of the poison” and do not want their children to take more medicine. But sometimes, after stopping the medicine, you will find that your child has a fever again.
“It needs to be reminded that the full course of treatment is very important. Even if the condition is much better during the medication, it is not recommended to stop the medication on your own.” Hou Wei said that oseltamivir prevents virus replication, rather than killing the virus. When the virus in the body After being unable to replicate, the number of viruses is limited and can be “solved” by the body’s own immunity. If the treatment is stopped early before the course of treatment is completed, the influenza virus in the body will continue to replicate and increase, causing fever symptoms to reappear.
What should I do if I miss a dose of oseltamivir? Hou Wei said that any time you miss a dose, you should take it as soon as possible, but if the next dose is less than two hours away, you should skip the missed dose and just take the next dose as normal. , never take two doses together.
Although oseltamivir can be used to treat influenza, it is not a substitute for getting the flu vaccine. Currently, vaccination is still the most effective way to prevent influenza. Hou Wei would like to remind parents that to prevent respiratory diseases, children should ensure adequate sleep, adequate nutrition, and appropriate physical exercise in daily life. Develop good personal hygiene habits. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, pay attention to hand hygiene, wash your hands frequently, and try to avoid habitual touching of your eyes, nose, and mouth. Keep the environment at home and workplace clean, and regularly open windows indoors for ventilation (keep warm during ventilation). High-risk groups such as children, pregnant women, and children with chronic diseases should avoid going to crowded public places as much as possible. Rest and seek medical attention promptly if you have symptoms. If symptoms of respiratory infection such as fever and cough occur, seek medical treatment promptly.
