Get informed about Influenza A fever & hallucinations in children

I wanted to warn other parents, but also provide reassurance that your little one will be okay. Thankfully, these episodes of delirium are brief and do not require treatment. As long as Marissa wasn’t confused or scared between these episodes, there was nothing I could do other than offer cuddles.

While I may have prevented the illness by booking her influenza vaccine sooner (she was booked for the next day) the best you can do during the illness itself is offer hydration and help to control the fever. Kids with fevers often look really, really sick, but remember that the fever itself is not dangerous, and alternating Advil and Tylenol every three hours works well to bring the fever down. 

With the recent shortage of liquid medication, here are links to how to use regular adult tablets to safely manage fevers:

Acetaminophen tablet dosing chart

Ibuprofen tablet dosage chart

Marissa is back to her feisty self, and her siblings successfully got protected with their flu shots. There’s still time to get your child vaccinated - find out how and where. 

Visit our immunization clinics page

Most kids get up to 10 respiratory viruses every year from September to April. This year we are seeing a particularly nasty combination of influenza, COVID-19, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) in kids less than three years old, as well as common colds. While it’s hard to see your child sick so frequently, almost all of these viruses can be managed at home with fluids, Advil/Tylenol, and some TLC.

Is it an emergency? With our emergency departments busy, here are some guidelines for when to worry or have your child assessed.

• Keep your child home when they’re unwell, waiting at least 24 - 48 hours after the end of their fever before returning to school
• Practice good handwashing, and wear masks in crowded indoor spaces
• Get your child protected with influenza and COVID-19 vaccines to prevent them from getting ill

I'm glad that I knew enough about this year’s Influenza A delirium to not have to bring Marissa to the emergency department, but I wouldn’t hesitate to bring her in for excellent care if she was exhibiting the symptoms outlined in this post. For now, we are back to playing in the snow and hearing no voices other than the shrieks of laughter of healthy kids. 

Stay safe friends. 

Dr. Kathryn MacKinlay is a Pediatrician in Vernon

Fever can make a child look unwell. Using children’s acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can help bring down the fever. If you are having trouble finding fever-reducing medication, the Public Health Agency of Canada provides information on what parents can do:

• Only buy what you need so others have access to the medications they need. 
• Keep your child comfortable:
  • Use cold compresses and have them drink plenty of fluids
  • Luke warm baths 
• Do not use adult fever and pain medications on children under 12 years of age without consulting a health care professional as there is a risk of serious harm and overdose.
• Speak to a pharmacist who can help choose the right alternate product and dose, or who may be able to prepare an appropriate and safe medication for your child.
• If you have any questions or concerns that your child may have taken or been given too much of a pain or fever-reducing medicine, please contact the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre at 1-800-567-8911 or 604-682-5050.

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