If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

My 4 1/2 yr old DS woke up acting mostly fine but has said he’s not hungry for breakfast, or now lunch, and says one of his ear hurts. He’s currently on the couch watching a movie, which is really something he mainly chooses to do if he’s not feeling well.

I know flu b and strep have been going around his class at school. I don’t think strep would start with an earache, but has anyone whose kid had the flu started out this way?

His ped is closed on Sunday and I’d rather not subject him to a germy waiting room at whatever urgent care, so if he still seems off tomorrow we’ll take him in the morning. I’m just wondering what I can maybe expect to come from this.

If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

My 5yo had two flu like illnesses in the past month that lasted over a week each. She wasn't tested for flu either time for various reasons though so this may not be helpful to you at all lol.

The first time she woke up nauseous, not eating, threw up once, felt better by the afternoon. Cough started the next day and fever the day after that.

The second one started with a high fever. Both times included coughs, congestion, headaches, stomach aches, ear aches, and sore throat at times. She also had a full body rash one day. Fun times.

Her ped advised against tamiflu in part bc her stomach was already bothering her at tamiflu might make that much worse. Hope he feels better quickly and that you stay healthy.

If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

Double post

Message edited 2/4/2018 12:55:30 PM.

Re: If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

I'm not sure if DD had the flu but just wanted to say, if you do need to go the urgent care route, I love PM Pediatrics. You can sign in online before you go and it gives you a time to cut back on sitting in the waiting room. Of the two locations I've been to, the waiting rooms are huge and I've never seen them crowded so the germ exposure isn't bad.

Re: If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

Thanks! Doesn’t seem to have a fever currently or seem very sick, but definitely is off. I hate this time of year with a passion.

Re: If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

Maybe an ear infection?

Re: If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

Message edited 2/4/2018 1:22:03 PM.

If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

One of my DD's had it. She was fine one minute, and not the next. She woke up fine, I came home from work at 4. The babysitter didn't say anything was wrong. She arte dinner, took a bath, went to bed at 8 with no issue. Maybe a little clingy, wanted to cuddle more than usual. Woke up at 2 am screaming, high fever, vomiting. Diagnosed with the flu the next day. She literally did a 180 in just a span of a few hours.

Re: If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

Posted by PennyCat

Posted by NervousNell

Maybe an ear infection?

I always fear the worst scnenarios, haven’t even considered an ear infection

Re: If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

Re: If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by PennyCat

Posted by NervousNell

Maybe an ear infection?

I always fear the worst scnenarios, haven’t even considered an ear infection

Lol! The ear pain made me think. I dont think flu would start with ear pain. I mean you never know but usually not

If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

As a PP said, it was a complete 180 in a matter of minutes. In the morning he had a little cough, I didn’t think anything of it. After school he was fine. Then all of a sudden around 7PM his cheeks got red and he laid on the couch. 103 fever, diagnosed with flu the next day.

Re: If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

DS complained of being cold and tired. Very unlike him. The next morning, he was full on sick with the flu.

If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

Sounds like an ear infection. We've had too many of those around here

If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

He said he was cold, sat on the couch, fell asleep and woke up red I. The cheeks, burning up, crying. Fml

Re: If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

Thanks everyone for the responses, he seemed to take a turn for the BETTER late afternoon and went to bed seeming completely fine. I’m very cautiously going to say that I think whatever this is, is not what I thought it was.

This germ season is making us all crazy!

Re: If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

When my nephew had it he had a really runny nose one day and the next 104 fever and horrible cough. It came on really quick. If he is complaining of his ear it could just be an ear infection. Hope your ds feels better!

If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

there is so many different things going around. My dd was just really sick and everyone jumped to "she has the flu!". Turns out she has croup.

Re: If your child had the flu, what was the first symptom?

Woke up with a fever.