Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of your child after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
You brought your child to the ED for the flu, also called "influenza." This is an infection caused by a virus. It is easy to spread from person to person.
Most children get over the flu without any long-term problems. However, some children are more likely to get very sick from the flu.
Your child might need antiviral medicine to treat the flu. If so, it is important that they finish the medicine, even if they start to feel better. Antibiotics do not work on the flu.
How do I care for my child at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for your child. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also:
●Call your child's regular doctor and tell them your child was in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●Offer your child lots of fluids. This helps keep them well hydrated. Offer your baby regular feedings of breast milk or formula. Older children can have warm fluids like tea or chicken soup. Offer your child foods, but do not force them to eat if they do not want to.
●Offer cold or frozen foods like ice cream or ice pops to soothe a sore throat and cough. Older children can suck on hard candy or a lollipop.
●Do not give your child over-the-counter throat sprays or cough medicines.
●Try to thin your child's mucus. You can use a cool mist humidifier in the room where they sleep. You can also give them saline nose drops to relieve stuffiness.
●If your child is uncomfortable because of fever, you can give them over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin). Read the instructions carefully. Never give aspirin to a child younger than 18 years old.
●Wash your and your child's hands often. This helps prevent spreading the infection to others.
●Encourage your child to rest as much as they want. But don't force them to sleep or rest. Your child can go back to school or regular activities after they have had a normal temperature for 24 hours.
When should I get emergency help?
●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:
•Your child has so much trouble breathing they can only say 1 or 2 words at a time, or your baby has trouble crying.
•Your child needs to sit upright to be able to breathe or cannot lie down.
•Your child is very tired from working to catch their breath.
•Your child's lips or face turn blue.
•Your child has a seizure.
•Your child passes out, seems very sleepy, or is breathing fast, and has 1 or more of these symptoms of severe fluid loss:
-Their skin is mottled and cool, and their hands and feet are blue.
-They do not urinate for 24 hours.
-Their eyes are sunken.
-The soft spot on their head is sunken (for babies).
●Return to the ED if your child:
•Has trouble breathing when talking or sitting still
•Seems confused or is not acting normal
•Cannot keep any fluids down, has not drank anything in many hours, and has 1 or more of the following:
-Your child is not as alert as usual, is very sleepy, or is much less active.
-Your child is crying all the time.
-Your baby has not had a wet diaper for 4 to 6 hours.
-Your older child has not urinated in the past 6 to 8 hours.
-Your child's skin is cool.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if:
●Your child has a fever for longer than 3 days, or a fever over 103°F (39.4°C) or chills.
●Your child has a fever and a rash.
●Your child gets better from the flu, but then gets sick again with a fever or cough.
●Your child is having trouble eating normally.
●Your child has a dry mouth.
●Your child has few or no tears when they cry.
●Your child's urine is dark.
●Your child is less active than normal.
●Your child is so unhappy they do not want to be held or are very hard to console.
●Your child has new or worsening symptoms.
Patient education: Flu (The Basics)
Patient education: Flu vaccine (The Basics)
Patient education: Influenza symptoms and treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Influenza prevention (Beyond the Basics)
