Flu Outbreaks and What It Means for Children

From Pamela Wilson, BellaOnline's Children with Special Needs Editor.

Seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for all children and teens with neurologic conditions, including babies over 6 months, especially those who experience difficulties with muscle or lung function, have smaller airways as is common in Down syndrome, or have difficulties swallowing, coughing, or otherwise clearing fluids from airways.

We continue to learn about how suspected flu pandemics will adversely affect children with disabilities as statistics and stories from the 2009 Swine Flu (A1N1 Influenza) and other recent outbreaks are collected. A high risk of life-threatening complications have been found for children who have intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, seizure disorders, MD, stroke, cerebral palsy or other brain or spinal cord problems. The nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for children under the age of two or those with chronic health conditions.