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Flu

The Critical Signs Your Kid’s Flu Is Serious

Kids under the age of 5 are at an increased risk of complications from the flu.

Brittany DoohanKaren Hovav, MD, FAAP
Written by Brittany Doohan | Reviewed by Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP
Updated on August 5, 2025
Reviewed by Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP | August 5, 2025

If you’re a parent, it’s natural to feel a little panicky around flu season. Children’s immature immune systems make them more vulnerable to the flu (especially if they’re younger than 5 or have a chronic condition like diabetes or asthma).

It’s important to able to tell when your kid’s flu has taken a turn for the worse, so you can get medical attention. Plus, make sure to protect your family by making sure everyone (6 months or older) gets their flu shot each year.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Severity. (2024). Past flu season severity assessments.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Influenza (flu): Caregivers of infants and young children.

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Brittany Doohan
Written by:
Brittany Doohan
Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.
Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

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