Flu season is here, and clinics across the country are reporting a sharp increase in the number of families where the disease is passed from one child to the rest of the household within a few days. What starts as a mild fever or cough in one child can quickly turn into a family chain of infection, leading to extended absences from school and work, and even medical complications. Clalit experts are urging parents not to wait and to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Children are contagious even before symptoms appear
Dr. Mickey Stein, Pediatrician in General Practice in Haifa District and Western Galilee, explains that one of the main challenges in dealing with the flu is the ability of children to infect those around them even before they appear sick.
He said that influenza viruses are transmitted mainly through droplets released during coughing and sneezing, which can travel up to two meters. The virus survives on surfaces for hours, and a person who is sick can infect those around them. Days before the onset of fever or cough.
"Recently, I've met quite a few families where the flu is passed from one family member to another, and sometimes within a few days everyone in the household is sick," says Dr. Stein. "The phenomenon is especially pronounced in families that have not been vaccinated. Vaccinated people can also get sick, but usually the disease will be milder and the risk of infection within the home is small."
This is what the family chain of infection looks like
The scenario is familiar to almost every parent: a child returns from daycare or school, feeling a little weak or complaining of a sore throat. A day later, a fever appears and in the meantime, he has already infected siblings, parents, or grandparents who are nearby.
The result:
- Children's absence from educational settings
- Parents forced to stay at home
- Disruption of family routine
- And sometimes — medical complications
It's not always "just the flu": possible complications
Although the flu is sometimes seen as a mild seasonal illness, it can be serious and even dangerous. Dr. Stein notes that possible complications include:
- ear infections
- Pneumonia
- Sinusitis
- Worsening of chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease
Diarrhea may also occur in young children. The severity of the disease is unpredictable, so prevention is especially important.
Protection begins before infection: This is how to reduce risk
Dr. Stein emphasizes that the main challenge in dealing with the flu begins Before Someone at home is sick:
Hand hygiene – Frequent hand washing significantly reduces the risk of infection.
Covering your mouth when coughing – A simple operation that prevents spray dispersion.
Leaving a sick child at home – You must wait at least 24 hours without heat before returning to the setting.
flu shot — The main preventive measure. Children and infants from the age of six months are included in the target population for vaccination, partly because they may quickly infect the environment.
There are two types of vaccines:
- Vaccination by injection — From six months old
- Live attenuated vaccine in nasal spray — From ages 2 to 49, depending on the indications. The spray can make vaccination simpler for many children.
The message to parents: Don't wait for the first child to come back with a fever.
The flu spreads from person to person, sometimes even before it is possible to identify who is sick. Therefore, Clalit experts urge parents to get vaccinated early:
A short action now can prevent illness, absences, and disruption of the entire family's routine.