Paediatricians in the UAE are warning parents that some children infected with influenza A can continue to experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach discomfort for one to two weeks after the main fever has passed.
Dr Nirosha Ponnuraj, a specialist paediatrician at Prime Medical Center's Jumeirah branch in Dubai, says most children recover from the acute infection within five to seven days, but some take noticeably longer to regain their normal appetite and energy levels. Dr Mamata Bothra, a specialist in paediatrics and neonatology at International Modern Hospital Dubai, and Dr Hassan Hababa, a paediatrics specialist at Burjeel Day Surgery Centre in Al Shahama, have offered similar observations.
The doctors say a lingering cough, fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite are also common after the fever breaks, sometimes persisting for up to two weeks. They are advising parents to keep children off school and other activities until they have been fever-free for a full 24 hours, and to maintain extra precautions, such as limiting close contact with others, for about five days after symptoms start improving.
They also note that full protection from a flu vaccine takes around two weeks to develop after the shot is given, which is why timely vaccination before the peak of flu season matters. The warnings come as paediatric clinics across the UAE report a rise in influenza A cases this month.