Influenza: When does my child need to see a doctor?

It's the same every year. The nativity scene disappears - and the flu arrives. In other words: after Christmas, the sick season begins. And now we're right in the middle of the influenza wave. Here is the most important information.

All the medical explanations are wonderfully summarised here on the website of the Paediatricians::innen Professional Association: www.kinderaerzte-im-netz.de/krankheiten/grippe-influenza/was-ist-eine-grippe-influenza/

Here we look at the important question: When is it necessary for me to have my child with the flu seen by a doctor?

The most important message up front: Healing takes time. A child with influenza is ill for a good seven to ten days. It starts very quickly with a high temperature, headache, aching limbs, a dry cough and often vomiting. In short: the children are simply exhausted.

But the important decisive point about "dangerously ill" (which is very rare!): The children should look reasonably okay: By this we mean red cheeks, a good facial colour. They should drink, but it doesn't matter what they eat, they can go a few days without eating. And: They can be tired a lot, sleep a lot, but they should show an interest in their surroundings in between, have something read to them, watch a short film, etc.

If these things are in place, then you don't have to worry too much about the children. The most important thing is to give them rest - and ibuprofen or paracetamol if necessary. And then you need patience. In the vast majority of cases, healthy children, i.e. those who have not been ill before, cope well with this story.

It is also clear that the smaller the children are, the more caution is required, for example, it is absolutely justified to have them seen at the paediatrician's practice if they have a high temperature.

Otherwise, it is also important not to send children back to social facilities too early. They should be fever-free for at least 24 hours, preferably 48 hours. Above all, their general condition should be such that you can say: The child was so fit during the day today, now I can send it back tomorrow.

Let's hope that most people are spared - and if your child does catch it, we wish them a complication-free recovery.

And as always, the overriding rule is: if in doubt, see your doctor.