Children younger than 5 years old, and especially those younger than 2 years, are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications. CDC estimates that from the 2010-2011 season to the 2022-2023 season (excluding 2020-2021), flu-related hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years old each flu season have ranged from 6,000 to 25,000 annually in the United States. Many more sick children have to go to a doctor, an urgent care center, or the emergency room because of flu.

Complications from flu among children can include the following:

Pneumonia (an illness where the lungs get infected and inflamed),

Dehydration (when a child's body loses too much water and salts, often because fluid losses are greater than fluid intake),

Worsening of long-term medical problems like heart disease or asthma,

Brain dysfunction,

Sinus problems, and

Ear infections.

In rare cases, flu complications can lead to death.

Flu vaccination can be life-saving in children‎

To reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications, CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a seasonal flu vaccine. Getting a seasonal flu vaccine is especially important for young children because they are at increased risk of getting severe illness from flu. Children 6 months to younger than 9 years old who have not previously received at least 2 doses of flu vaccine need 2 doses of flu vaccine spaced at least 4 weeks apart.

Flu vaccination has been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and even death in children. A 2017 CDC study was the first of its kind to show that flu vaccination significantly reduced a child's risk of dying from flu.

Benefits of the Flu Vaccine

Children younger than 6 months old are at highest risk of hospitalization

Children younger than 6 months old have the highest risk for being hospitalized from flu compared to children of other ages but are too young to get a flu vaccine. Because flu vaccines are not approved for use in children younger than 6 months old, protecting them from flu is especially important.

Advice on how to fight flu for caregivers of children younger than 5 years old 1. Take time to get a vaccine

A yearly flu vaccine is the first and best way to protect against flu. Flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death in children. If the child you care for is 6 months or older, they should get a flu vaccine each year. If your child is 6 months to younger than 9 years old and has not previously received at least 2 doses of flu vaccine, your child needs 2 doses of flu vaccine given at least 4 weeks apart. Your child then needs only one dose of flu vaccine each year after.

As a caregiver to a young child, you should get a flu vaccine each year, and make sure that other caregivers and all household members aged 6 months and older also get vaccinated each year. By getting vaccinated, you will be less likely to get flu and therefore less likely to spread flu to the child.

Keep yourself and the child in your care away from people who are sick as much as you can. If you get flu symptoms, avoid contact with other people when possible, including the child in your care. Consider arranging for another caregiver to care for the child if possible, so that you don't make them sick.

Keep Reading Preventive Actions to Help Protect Against Flu

Keep Reading Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You're Sick

Antiviral drugs are available to treat flu in children and adults. CDC recommends that people at higher risk of serious flu complications, including young children, should be treated with flu antiviral drugs as soon as possible if they get sick with flu. Although all children younger than 5 years old are considered at higher risk for complications from flu, the highest risk is for those younger than 2 years old, with the highest hospitalization and death rates among infants younger than 6 months old.

Treating Flu with Antiviral Drugs

Learn about flu treatment with antiviral drugs.

Treatment of Flu in Children

Prescription antiviral drugs can be a safe and effective treatment option for children with flu.

Opening and Mixing Oseltamivir Capsules with Liquids if Child Cannot Swallow Capsules

Learn how to open and mix flu antiviral capsules for children who can't swallow capsules.

Advice if you are sick with flu and care for children younger than 5 years old

Flu may cause fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Young children also may have vomiting or diarrhea with flu symptoms. It's important to note that some people with flu may not have a fever. If you live with or care for a young child and you get flu symptoms, follow the precautions below to help prevent the spread of illness to the child or children in your care.

Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. People with flu can spread it to others nearby. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching his or her own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

Keep Reading How Flu Spreads

Keep Reading Signs and Symptoms of Flu

Observe the child or children in your care closely for signs and symptoms of respiratory illness. If your child develops a fever (or feels feverish with chills), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache, fatigue, or vomiting and/or diarrhea, contact your child's health care provider. Your child's health care provider may want to evaluate your child and may order flu testing.

Flu antiviral drugs can be used to treat flu and are approved for use in children. These drugs are most beneficial when antiviral treatment is started as soon as possible after the illness starts, so it's important to contact your child's health care provider as soon as they have flu symptoms.

If your child shows any Emergency Warning Signs of flu, seek medical care immediately.

Keep Reading Signs and Symptoms of Flu