Mom Warning Others of Son's Unlikely Flu Symptom That Could Easily Be Overlooked
It seems like every year, the viruses out and about keep getting worse and worse. Flu shots have steadily become a yearly ritual and hand sanitizer is found in homes, schools, and many public places across the country.
The flu has been especially virulent this year, and many authorities are claiming it’s the worst case since 2009.
The symptoms of the flu are commonly known. Fever, aches, and a lack of energy are the first warning signs that many of us look for. But think again, because you may be missing something.
One mom, Brodi Willard, is sharing a warning to help others realize that the flu can come with many symptoms, some a little bit surprising.
Her message? If things don’t seem right, check with your doctor right away.
Willard is not only a mom, but a nurse as well. So when her son, Seb, came home from school one day with hives, she took a closer look.
Every time her son would scratch the itchy hives, more would pop up. Thinking that the hives were an irritation, Willard said, “We gave him a bath, washed his hands and cleaned him all up and he still had the hives.”
She told her son to stop scratching himself, but what child has the willpower or resolve to ignore something so irritating?
Something wasn’t quite right and so Willard called her son’s pediatrician. The doctor told her that other children with a similar symptom had recently tested positive for the flu.
Willard and her son headed to the doctors office to be tested. The results were positive for influenza B.
It was shocking news. “No fever, no cough, and no runny nose. He only has hives,” Willard said. Luckily the doctor had caught the illness early but Willard still couldn’t believe the one-symptom diagnosis.
They put him on the Tamiflu, and he’s been fine. He’s still playing and running around,” she later said in an interview.
With the flu claiming more and more lives, Willard wanted to share her story on Facebook. She posted an image of her son’s hives along with a warning, “Please keep watch on your children so if they develop hives, please call your pediatrician.”
Though the symptom of hives is not common to the flu, it is also not unheard of. With flu viruses changing and mutating over the years, it seemed plausible that new symptoms would arise.
Dr. Anne O’Keefe confirmed this constant change, saying, “That’s why we have to have a new vaccine every year. We watch the changes happening in other parts of the world right before it gets here.”
Willard’s warning on her Facebook page has been shared more than 200,000 times. If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, now might just be the time!
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