Talking to children about H1N1

A local psychiatrist says it's important for parents to talk to their kids about the H1N1 virus.

Dr. Henry Sachs is the Medical Director at Bradley Hospital in East Providence. He says children have a lot of questions about the recent flu outbreak, and the effort to vaccinate kids against H1N1.

"'Is the vaccine going to hurt if I take the shot?' ' Will I feel funny if I take the nasal spray?' Things like that."

But Dr. Sachs says some kids may be reluctant to go to mom and dad about their flu fears.

Some possible signs your child is worried about H1N1 include:
Talking with friends or siblings about the flu
Seems anxious
Different eating or sleeping habits

"It is important to address kids in a sort of calm, confident way about what H1N1 is, what the treatments are," advises Dr. Sachs. "And ask them about any concerns they have."

He says parents should not shy away from discussing the deaths associated with H1N1, but says they should keep things in perspective.

"It's important to keep this illness in context with a lot of other illnesses. Every year a lot of children get flu, thousands, millions get flu. And the vast majority do wonderfully well."

And if your kids have questions you don't know the answers to, Dr. Sachs says don't be afraid to get your pediatrician in the conversation.