What Parents Need to Know About the 2025–2026 Influenza Season 

As a pediatric hospitalist at Southern NH Medical Center, a nonprofit hospital in Nashua, New Hampshire, I am seeing more children hospitalized with influenza this season than we typically expect.  

The flu is arriving earlier and spreading more widely, and some children are becoming seriously ill, especially those who are very young or have underlying health conditions. This makes prevention, early recognition of symptoms, and timely medical care especially important for families right now. 

This year's flu

Influenza (the flu) is a seasonal respiratory virus that can cause serious complications in children, including pneumonia, hospitalization, and, in rare cases, death. A new influenza strain, H3N2, has emerged this year and is associated with an increased risk of severe illness, especially among children and individuals with chronic medical conditions. Unfortunately, there has been a rise in reported influenza cases over the past few weeks. 

Tips to prevent your child from catching the flu 

It’s not too late for your child to receive the influenza vaccine. We encourage every patient to talk with their doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician associate about what is best for them and their family. 

• Children 6 months of age and older can be vaccinated. 
• Vaccination helps prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death- especially important this year due to the new strain. 
• Family members and caregivers should also receive the influenza vaccine to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to children. 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 

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Flu symptoms and signs  

Common symptoms include: 

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills 
• Cough 
• Sore throat 
• Runny or stuffy nose 
• Muscle or body aches 
• Headaches 
• Fatigue (tiredness) 

In children, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur more commonly than in adults. 

How to know if your child has the flu 

If your child has flu-like symptoms, contact your child’s pediatrician to discuss testing.  The flu is a virus. A positive influenza test may mean your child could benefit from antiviral treatment. 

Tamiflu is often used to treat influenza in: 

• Children under 5 years old 
• Children of any age with chronic medical conditions 
• Treatment is most effective when Tamiflu is started within 2 days of symptom onset, so it is important to contact your pediatrician promptly. 

When to seek medical care urgently  

Seek immediate medical care if your child has: 

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing 
• Bluish lips or face 
• Ribs pulling in with each breath 
• Chest pain 
• Severe muscle pain (child refuses to walk) 
• Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying) 
• Not alert or not interacting when awake 
• Seizures 
• Fever above 104°F that does not respond to fever-reducing medicine 
• Any fever in children younger than 12 weeks 
• Fever or cough that improves but then returns or worsens 

• Worsening of chronic medical conditions 

For more information about influenza, talk to your pediatrician and check updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. 

Dr. Sharon Vuppula is a pediatric hospitalist at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center with a strong background in pediatric infectious diseases, antimicrobial stewardship, and infection control. She is dedicated to improving patient outcomes through evidence-based practices and multidisciplinary collaboration. Her clinical expertise spans the management of complex pediatric infections and the implementation of strategies to optimize antibiotic use and prevent hospital-acquired infections.