The University of Kansas Hospital released information from the Centers for Disease Control to help residents determine when the flu is serious enough to seek hospitalization or other medical care.
The Centers for Disease Control said the danger signs in children include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash
• Being unable to eat
• Has trouble breathing
• Has no tears when crying
• Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal
In adults:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough
With schools resuming next week, Dr. Lee Norman said it is important that parents keep kids home from school when they are running a fever, and not return them to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours.
Dr. Norman said the same rules apply to adults staying home from work.
– Information from KU Hospital