With deaths of children from influenza mounting, a Nebraska mother took to social media to alert readers to an unusual symptom that may escape their notice.
Some 37 children reportedly have died in the U.S. from the flu, nearly double the total of last year's flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On Friday, Brodi Willard, a registered nurse in Blair, Neb., posted on Facebook that her son came home from school with hives. The rash flared up on the back of his arm, above the elbow.
The itchy skin bumps and blotches wouldn't go away, even after bathing and changing clothes. So she called the family's pediatrician.
"They said they had two kids come into the office that day with the same symptoms and tested POSITIVE FOR INFLUENZA," she wrote. "I took (her son) to the doctor this morning, and he tested POSITIVE for INFLUENZA B. He has had NO symptoms. No fever, no cough, and no runny nose. He only has hives."
By Wednesday noon, the post had been shared about 230,000 times.
But were the kids' hives really a symptom of the flu or merely coincidental?
According to medical sites such as Hives (hives.org) and Patient Info, a viral infection such as a cold or flu can trigger an urticarial (hives) rash in some people.
Still, skin outbreaks are more unusual than other flu symptoms. Flu patients typically complain of fever, chills, coughs, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches and exhaustion. They may also experience vomiting and diarrhea.
The first line of defense against influenza is a flu shot. Kids older than 6 months should be vaccinated.
The first line of defense against influenza is a flu shot. Kids older than 6 months should be vaccinated.
Photo: Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut MediaMake sure you get a good night's sleep. It's crucial for staying healthy and fighting off illness.
Make sure you get a good night's sleep. It's crucial for staying healthy and fighting off illness.
Photo: D-BASE, Getty ImagesAccording to the CDC there is "no scientific evidence" to support the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies. Don't even bother wasting your money on them.
According to the CDC there is "no scientific evidence" to support the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies. Don't even bother wasting your money on them.
Photo: Eric Audras, Getty Images/OnokyOne of the easiest things you can do to ward off germs is to wash your hands often with soap and water. If those are not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizer will do.
One of the easiest things you can do to ward off germs is to wash your hands often with soap and water. If those are not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizer will do.
Photo: PhotoAlto/Odilon Dimier, Getty Images/PhotoAltoThe influenza virus can be killed by high heat (over 167 degrees Fahrenheit), as well as by hydrogen peroxide, chlorine and detergents. So keep things clean and freshly washed.
The influenza virus can be killed by high heat (over 167 degrees Fahrenheit), as well as by hydrogen peroxide, chlorine and detergents. So keep things clean and freshly washed.
Photo: GK Hart/Vikki Hart, Getty ImagesAnother stay healthy tip is to drink plenty of water, both when you're healthy and when you're sick.
Another stay healthy tip is to drink plenty of water, both when you're healthy and when you're sick.
Photo: Eric Audras, Getty Images/OnokyAvoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose. Germs are often spread via contact with these areas.
Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose. Germs are often spread via contact with these areas.
Photo: KidStock, Getty Images/Blend ImagesIf you or a family member has a fever, stay home! The CDC recommends you stay at home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone.
If you or a family member has a fever, stay home! The CDC recommends you stay at home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone.
Photo: Paul Bradbury, Getty Images/OJO Images RFAvoid close contact with sick people — the flu is most commonly spread through droplets from coughing and sneezing.
Avoid close contact with sick people — the flu is most commonly spread through droplets from coughing and sneezing.
Photo: Anthony Harvie, Getty ImagesDuring flu season, be sure to clean oft-touched objects like doorknobs, keyboards and phones. Flu germs can linger on hard surfaces such as these for two to eight hours.
During flu season, be sure to clean oft-touched objects like doorknobs, keyboards and phones. Flu germs can linger on hard surfaces such as these for two to eight hours.
Photo: Alan Shortall, Getty ImagesCover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, and make sure you throw your used tissues in the trash.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, and make sure you throw your used tissues in the trash.
Aside from the last two ailments, flu symptoms are pretty similar to cold symptoms. So how do you tell the two diseases apart?
Colds tend to develop gradually with symptoms concentrated around your nose, face and throat. Low-grade fevers are common.
The flu, on the other hand, strikes more swiftly and is often accompanied by high fevers. The body aches, sore throat and coughs come all of a sudden. Some patients suffer from shortness of breath, dehydration and dizziness.
The best ways to protect yourself from the flu are 1) get a flu shot, 2) avoid coming in contact with someone who has the flu 3) wash your hands frequently and 4) avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
The CDC expects the flu to peak in mid-February. In recent days two 12-year-old boys, one in Florida and another in Michigan, died after becoming violently ill.
Another Florida boy, a 7-year-old, died Sunday after throwing up and then falling asleep at school on Friday.
On Tuesday, it was reported that a 4-year-old New Jersey girl died of the flu in December. She was not vaccinated against the disease.
from Health - Google News http://ift.tt/2GAQNJ4
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