A 3-year-old child has had symptoms of influenza including fever, productive cough, nausea, vomiting, and sore throat for the past several days. In caring for a young child with symptoms of influenza, the mother must be cautioned about:

Aspirin should never be given to children with influenza because of the possibility of causing Reye's syndrome. Pepto-Bismol is also classified as a salicylate and should be avoided. Depending on the severity of symptoms, the child may be receiving IV therapy or clear liquids. The disease has a 1-3 day incubation period and affected children are most infectious 24 hours before and after the onset of symptoms. Although viral pneumonia can be a complication of influenza, this would not be an initial priority.