FLU

What Is the Flu?

Influenza (say: in-floo-en-zah) is also called the flu. It's an infection that causes fever, chills, cough, body aches, headaches, and sometimes earaches or sinus problems. The flu is caused by the influenza virus (say: vy-rus). A virus is a microorganism (say: my-croh-or-gah-nih-zum), which means it's so small that you can't see it without a strong microscope.
For most people, the flu is a drag, but it goes away in a week or two. But for some people, the flu can make them very sick. Those groups include:
1)babies and kids younger than age 5
2)people older than 50
3)adults and kids who have health problems, such as diabetes and asthma

Anyone who's at risk of getting really sick needs to get a flu shot, or vaccine (say: vak-seen). People such as doctors and nurses also need the shot because they take care of sick people, and it's good for anyone who is around older people and younger kids to get the vaccine.
And now, experts say that all kids between the ages of 6 months and 18 years should get the flu shot. This is especially important for kids who have:
heart or lung disorders, including asthma
chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, certain kinds of anemia, or immune system problems, including HIV/

What to do if you get flu?

1)Drink lots of liquids, like water, chicken broth, and other fluids.
2)Get plenty of sleep. If you can't sleep anymore, keep resting. Listen to music, watch a movie, or read a book or magazine.
3)If you're feeling achy, ask your parent for some medicine. But avoid aspirin because it can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome (say: ry sin-drome).
4)Wear layers. You might be cold one minute and hot the next, so if you wear plenty of layers you can pull your favorite sweatshirt on and off.
5)Wash your hands! You don't want to spread the germs that cause the flu. Also, don't share cups and eating utensils, like forks and spoons, with anyone.

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Bug Bites and STING

A Bee Stung ME!

What a Bee Sting Looks and Feels Like:

Honeybess, wasps, hornets, fire ants, and yellow jackets may look different and have different homes, but they all sting when they are upset! If a person is stung by any of these insects, the sting will feel a lot like a shot at the doctor's office.The site of the sting will feel hot and it may itch. A red bump surrounded by white skin will develop around the sting, except for the sting of the fire ant, which turns into an itchy blister.Wasps and many bees can sting more than once because they are able to pull out their stinger without injuring themselves. Only honeybees have special hooks on their stinger that keep the stinger in the skin after a person is stung. The stinger gets torn out of the bee's body as it tries to fly away. As a result, the honeybee dies after stinging.

What You Should Do:

1)Have an adult help you remove the stinger, if one is left behind after a honeybee sting. (It doesn't really matter how it's removed. What is important is that it's removed as quickly as possible.)

2)Wash the area with soap and water

3)Apply some ice to the area.

4)Ask your mom or dad for a pain reliever.

How to Avoid Getting Stung:

The best way to keep from getting stung by bees is to avoid places where they spend time, like gardens or orchards in bloom. If you are going to be outside in summertime, keep your shoes on and don't wear sweet-smelling perfume. Dress in long pants and a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt. Avoid bright-colored clothing and clothing with flowery prints. Cover food at picnics and don't drink soda from open cans at a summer picnic or barbecue — yellow jackets like to climb inside for a sip.Stay away from garbage cans in summer that are swarming with bees. If you suddenly see a bee flying around you, don't swat at it or run around. This makes bees angry and upset, and they may sting. Just move slowly or stand still instead, and the bee will be more likely to move on.

A Mosquito Bit Me!

What a Mosquito Is:
A mosquito (say: mus-kee-toe) is an insect that is found all over the world. There are thousands of different kinds of mosquitoes in many different sizes and colors. The female mosquito needs blood from vertebrates (animals that have a spine) to lay eggs and produce more mosquitoes. She has a special part of her mouth that she uses to suck blood, and her saliva (spit) thins the blood so she can drink it. In fact, it's the mosquito's saliva that makes the bites itch!

What a Mosquito Bite Looks and Feels Like:
A person who gets bitten by a mosquito will notice a round pink or red bump that itches a lot.

What You Should Do:
If you think you've been bitten by a mosquito, wash the bite with soap and water. Put on some calamine lotion to help stop the itching, or an adult can find an anti-itch cream at the drugstore for you. Placing an ice pack on the bite may also help. Tell an adult you've been bitten by a mosquito, especially if you live in the eastern United States.

What a Doctor Will Do:
It's very unusual for someone to have an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite. But if you develop an allergic reaction and feel dizzy or sick, tell an adult immediately. A doctor can treat allergic reactions with medicines.

How to Avoid Getting Bitten:
The best way to avoid mosquito bites is to wear an insect repellent. Repellents that include one of these ingredients are best: DEET, lemon eucalyptus, or picaridin. Ask a parent to help you apply them.
Since mosquitoes lay their eggs in water, it's also a good idea to empty out buckets, flower pots, toys, and other things in your yard that may have collected water during a rainstorm. And when it's possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to keep mosquitoes away from your skin.