The 2024-25 flu season has been the deadliest in a decade for children in the United States. According to two new reports recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a record number of children have died this season, setting off alarm bells for parents across the country. This information about the increasing risk of flu among children in the United States and the preventive measures to combat it is extremely important that every parent should understand. These reports do not just present statistics, they also make us aware of the serious nature of the disease and the urgent need for vaccination.
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the key findings of the CDC report and provide detailed information on what you can do to protect your children from this dangerous disease.
Deadliest Flu Season of the Decade
A shocking 280 children in the United States died from the flu during the 2024-25 flu season. This is the highest number since the 2009-10 H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic. Notably, this is the highest number of child deaths since national records began in 2004 for a typical flu season, with no pandemics. This figure poses a significant challenge to the health system.
Mortality: The child mortality rate from flu this season was 3.8 per million children. The average age of the children who died was 7 years, and 61% of the deaths occurred in children under 9 years of age.
Who is most at risk?: The highest mortality rate was among children under six months of age (11.1 per million). Among racial groups, black children were found to have the highest mortality rate (5.8 per million).
Type of virus: 86% of all deaths were caused by influenza A viruses, while 14% were caused by influenza B. In influenza A, both subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 were active.
Health background: 56% of children with available medical history had at least one chronic illness, with neurological (nerve-related) illnesses being the most common.
Complications of illness: The children who died had serious complications such as sepsis (blood infection), pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Lack of vaccination: A concern
Most worryingly, of the children whose vaccination status was known, 89% had not received the flu vaccine or had not completed their vaccination. This shows how important the flu vaccine is to protect children from this serious illness and its deadly consequences. Many parents think of the flu as a common illness, but these statistics prove that it can be fatal for children. Shockingly, almost half of the children died before they were admitted to the hospital, at home, or in the emergency department. This means that the condition worsened very quickly after symptoms began to appear.
Flu and Serious Effects on the Brain
The flu is not just limited to the respiratory system, it can also have serious and permanent effects on children’s brains. Another CDC report highlights a rare but very dangerous neurological complication called influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE).
What is IAE?: When the flu virus triggers the body’s immune system to attack the brain, the brain swells, bleeds, and brain cells begin to die. This condition is also called acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE).
Even healthy children are at risk: The scariest part of this study was that more than half of the children who developed IAE and ANE were previously completely healthy and had no underlying medical conditions. This means that any healthy child can succumb to this serious complication of the flu.
Mortality and long-term effects: 41% of the children who developed ANE died. Those who survive may face lifelong challenges such as developmental delays, learning disabilities, and problems controlling movement.
While the information from the CDC report is alarming, it can help you take the right steps to protect your children. As parents, you should make sure to:
Annual flu vaccination: The best and most effective way to protect your children is to get a flu vaccine every year. The CDC recommends an annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older. The vaccine not only protects against getting the flu, but it also reduces the severity of the illness and the likelihood of hospitalization.
Recognize the symptoms of the illness: Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, and fatigue are common symptoms of the flu. Children may also experience vomiting and diarrhea. Don’t ignore these symptoms if you see them.
Seek immediate medical attention: If your child has trouble breathing, has a bluish appearance, is not drinking enough fluids, is very irritable, or has a fever and cough that improve but then return, contact your doctor immediately.
Antiviral medications: Antiviral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) can be given within the first 48 hours of flu symptoms, as prescribed by your doctor, to reduce the severity and duration of the illness.
One In the Valley, the 2024-25 flu season is a stark reminder that flu is not a common illness, especially for children. It can be serious, complicated, and even life-threatening. However, we have a powerful weapon in our hands – the flu vaccine. By prioritizing your children’s health and getting them vaccinated on time, you can keep them safe from this dangerous disease.