Influenza or "The Flu" is a viral illness that spreads across the world every year. Flu season in the Northeast of the United States tends to be from January to March, but occasionally will start earlier. Symptoms of the flu include fever, body ache, headache, sore throat, cough and fatigue. The flu can last 5-7 days, with people usually feeling the worst on days 2 and 3 of the illness.
 
It is important that we all do everything we can to minimize our and our children's chances to get the flu. Everyone should be washing their hands frequently or using an alcohol based hand sanitizer, covering your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and, of course, getting flu vaccination.
 
Starting this year the CDC has recommended that every child from 6 months to 18 years receive the flu vaccination. Performance Pediatrics has a limited supply of flu vaccine and will be providing flu vaccine for our patients as long as we have supply. There is an inhaled (nose spray) version of the flu vaccine available for children older than 2 years who do not have asthma. We have a limited supply of this nasal vaccine and it will be offered as long as it is available.

 

I am often asked, especially by people who are new to the Plymouth community, why the school is asking for permission to give their child Potassium Iodide (KOH) "in the event of a nuclear emergency".  Certainly the phrase "nuclear emergency" will make anyone a little anxious, so let me clarify why the school may need to give your child KOH.