Healthy Habits - Cold and Flu Season Report

 As flu season arrives and healthcare costs rise, some parents are making tough calls.

 

A new report from Lurie Children’s Hospital finds that 42% of parents admit sending children to school or daycare with mild cold symptoms—and 41% say they’ve done so even when they likely shouldn’t have.
 

• 32% of parents aren’t sure which preventive visits their child needs each year
• Over 1 in 10 say their child has missed preventative care in the past three years
• 1 in 4 parents say higher costs have made them reconsider preventive care

 

When it comes to cold season, 1 in 3 parents don’t plan to get their child a flu shot. While pediatricians remain the most trusted health source (85%), 27% still turn to social media or friends and family (23%).

 

“There are a few warning signs that parents need to be aware of that should prompt a medical visit for evaluation,” says Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, Lurie Children’s, Division Head, Infectious Diseases. “If your child is having high fevers (>102F), is listless, not eating or drinking well enough to stay hydrated, this could be a sign of the flu or a more severe form of other respiratory viruses.”