Home / Health & Wellness / Children's Health The unexpected flu symptom every parent should be aware of Hives. By Diana Spalding, CNM June 16, 2021 Rectangle Inside this article In addition to hives, here are some symptoms of the flu to look out for:The Centers for Disease Control recommend the following steps in preventing the flu: Table of Contents Toggle In addition to hives, here are some symptoms of the flu to look out for:The Centers for Disease Control recommend the following steps in preventing the flu: Registered Nurse and mom, Brodi Willard, didn’t know that she was about to go viral when she posted a photo of her son’s arm—she was simply trying to share a helpful piece of little-known information with her fellow moms. Well, share she did! And we are so grateful. Her son came home from school one day with hives on his body. Hives are raised bumps on the skin, usually itchy, that can vary in shape and size. Willard’s son was otherwise perfectly healthy—no coughing, fever or pain. But every time he scratched, his mom noticed that more hives appeared. She called her pediatrician who told her “they had two kids come into the office that day with the same symptoms and tested POSITIVE FOR INFLUENZA.” She went right in and sure enough, her son was diagnosed with the flu. Usually, when we think about the flu, we think about fevers, coughs, runny noses and body aches. It turns out the hives are actually a common symptom of any virus (like the flu). That’s why we are so glad that Ms. Willard shared her story. This year’s flu has been a rough one—12,000 people have already been hospitalized for the flu, and 37 children have died from it. In addition to hives, here are some symptoms of the flu to look out for: Fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or greater)Sore throatCoughRunny noseBody aches and headachesTirednessNausea and vomiting The Centers for Disease Control recommend the following steps in preventing the flu: Vaccination for every 6 months and olderAvoiding people who are sickCovering mouths and noses with tissues when you cough or sneeze, and the throwing the tissue outWash hands with soap and water frequentlyTry not to touch your eyes, mouth and noseClean hard surfaces with disinfectant The key here is not to be afraid to speak up if you have a concern. YOU are your child’s expert. If something just doesn’t feel right, call your pediatrician. Hang in there. Spring will come again. Related Stories Children's Health A new study just changed how we manage peanut allergies in kids Safety New study sounds alarm on water bead dangers—what parents need to know Health & Wellness Water and milk are the only recommended beverages for kids, according to a new expert panel Categories: Children's Health, Health & Wellness, Life Inside this article In addition to hives, here are some symptoms of the flu to look out for:The Centers for Disease Control recommend the following steps in preventing the flu: Related articles Health & Wellness The rise of walking pneumonia in kids—what parents need to know October 29, 2024 Health & Wellness Whooping cough outbreak: CDC reports 6x more cases than this time last year December 19, 2024 Health & Wellness Just 30% of children with celiac disease have stomach issues. Here’s what to look for June 30, 2024 News Measles outbreaks have been reported in multiple states, AAP says January 25, 2024 Baby Health 14 key things parents should know about RSV in 2025: Symptoms, treatment & prevention Updated October 24, 2023