Who’s had the mutant super flu?

Whywhywhyyyy · 2025-12-12T00:44:11+00:00

3 yo just wakes up. Head sweating with drip. Boiling hot. Temp 40.2. A few dry retch coughs, breathe smells ill and some funky smelling trumps. TMI sorry Basically looks super ill. Considering whether we are going to be heading to hospital tonight. Gave ibu and para and within 20mins we are back down to 36.9! What is going on?!?! Any ideas anyone.

HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 12/12/2025 00:54

DS and I currently have it. Tested positive on a LFT off amazon.
It has been temperatures and awful cough here.
However DS is 13 and more robust than 3…
Sounds like the meds have kicked in but you could be in for a rubbish week.
Get well soon

rainbowunicorn · 12/12/2025 00:55

If its flu then paracetamol, plenty of fluids and rest us all most people including children need. If the temp comes down with Paracetamol then no need to even think about hospital. People that need to go to hospital with flu are the ones who's temp won't come down or a struggling to breathe. I would consider a high temp that responds to medication and a couple of coughs anywhere near needing medical advice.

Original poster

Whywhywhyyyy · 12/12/2025 01:02

rainbowunicorn · 12/12/2025 00:55

If its flu then paracetamol, plenty of fluids and rest us all most people including children need. If the temp comes down with Paracetamol then no need to even think about hospital. People that need to go to hospital with flu are the ones who's temp won't come down or a struggling to breathe. I would consider a high temp that responds to medication and a couple of coughs anywhere near needing medical advice.

Yes absolutely, he’s perked up now and we are all in the bed. But yes his breathing was quite fast. Just so sudden!!

Was panicking it might be allergy as so fast. And he seems to have too much energy for flu.

But then I remembered we have this new flu and was wondering what other people are like with that?

OP posts:

HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 12/12/2025 01:20

The symptoms are the same as any other influenza virus.
The media are calling it a superflu because it has mutated so the vaccine is less effective than they would hope.

Madformaltesers · 12/12/2025 08:34

I haven't tested but have been ill all week, starting with (TMI) only what I would imagine dysentery is like .. then high temp, body aches, killer headache, sore throat so bad that Im struggling to sip fluids, have only eaten small amount of ice cream since Tuesday
I've had the flu jab as well

Original poster

Whywhywhyyyy · 12/12/2025 12:48

Thanks all. It’s looking more fluid like now. Poor soul is sleeping on the sofa 😢

OP posts:

BlueberrySugarPie · 12/12/2025 14:03

DH and DD5 got it mildly last week, I didn’t catch it, presumably because I’d had a pregnancy flu jab in October. 5 week old DS hasn’t caught it either.

Blizzardofleaves · 12/12/2025 14:29

I would consider writing a time table of meds, to ensure you are not under or over medicating. Do keep them going though, as it’s painful. My spine and the aches were so bad. Monitor the sats levels, and breathing, heart rate and keep logging them down. I would avoid the hospital unless terribly ill, because it’s awful being so ill waiting for 12 hours or more. Obv go immediately if you are worried about breathing, or heart rate.

CurbsideProphet · 12/12/2025 14:35

Madformaltesers · 12/12/2025 08:34

I haven't tested but have been ill all week, starting with (TMI) only what I would imagine dysentery is like .. then high temp, body aches, killer headache, sore throat so bad that Im struggling to sip fluids, have only eaten small amount of ice cream since Tuesday
I've had the flu jab as well

I think you could have the "new covid".
A few people I know have had these symptoms and tested positive on lateral flows.

My DH thinks he's had flu - very high temp, bad cough, bad cold, unable to get out of bed for 2 days, no appetite or energy.

Om83 · 12/12/2025 15:09

My son was poorly during lockdown and we couldn’t get his temp down with calpol, called 111 and they sent and ambulance out - they told me to give higher doses of paracetamol and stagger it with ibuprofen (they told me the exact amount based on weight) but throughout it all my son looked pale but was still active/had energy and the paramedics said that kids often are more energetic than we would be. How is he doing now?

Original poster

Whywhywhyyyy · 12/12/2025 17:13

Om83 · 12/12/2025 15:09

My son was poorly during lockdown and we couldn’t get his temp down with calpol, called 111 and they sent and ambulance out - they told me to give higher doses of paracetamol and stagger it with ibuprofen (they told me the exact amount based on weight) but throughout it all my son looked pale but was still active/had energy and the paramedics said that kids often are more energetic than we would be. How is he doing now?

He’s doing good thankyou 😊

He is nearly 4 when you can have 7.5ml calpol. So we are doing 6 (above the 5 for 3 yo). And max dose ibu.

I’ll and mopey but temp is controlled to not crazy levels.

OP posts:

CreepingCrone · 12/12/2025 17:27

Moi. I had it for 4 weeks in Oct/Nov

MILLYmo0se · 12/12/2025 21:39

Whywhywhyyyy · 12/12/2025 17:13

He’s doing good thankyou 😊

He is nearly 4 when you can have 7.5ml calpol. So we are doing 6 (above the 5 for 3 yo). And max dose ibu.

I’ll and mopey but temp is controlled to not crazy levels.

Show quote history

Can you work out the dosage by his weight, v likely he could take the 7.5mls. The dosage on bottle is just going by averages so that no small-for-age child gets too much, but if you went to hospital they do it by weight. My tall for her age child was on the higher dose by 3 if she had one of her weird random raging temps

Denimbee27 · 12/12/2025 21:57

We’ve all had it , my youngest caught it at school half the school has been off ill. She had high temp felt unwell but came back from it after 4-5 days, my eldest caught it very unwell for over 7 days temp of 40.4 (coming down to 39.7 with meds) i filled in online 111 form for advice they advised as her temp was coming down and under three days we could manage it at home, myself and my husband then caught it never felt so ill high temp, body aches couldn’t get out of bed, no appetite, nausea.I’ve got antibiotics now for a secondary chest infection doctor thinks I originally had Covid
111 are very helpful if you have any concerns you can always ring them they will advise what best to do. We called them last year got call back in 30 minutes when my youngest had flu they had sepsis concerns so sent us straight to a&e
hope your little one feeling better soon it’s very worrying when they are little and can’t fully explain how they feel

Springbaby2023 · 12/12/2025 22:13

Three year olds can have 7.5ml calpol OP (obvs check your individual bottle).

Itschaoshere · 12/12/2025 22:15

My neice had it. Usual awful flu symptoms plus d&v the hospital had to put her in a nappy as she lost control of her bowels. Its a nasty illness. They are overseas and tested her and it was influenza. Wish your child better.

Kickinthenostalgia · 12/12/2025 22:49

DS17 had it 3 weeks ago, runny nose, sneezing, dizzy, high temp, shivers, sweats, hot cold. I’m surprised he didn’t get the cough as he’s asthmatic and usually does. DP also had it the same time. 2 weeks ago I started feeling super dizzy, like moving my head whilst laying down type. Next day was better but I felt off, a few days later I had extreme fatigue. Then a few days after that the cough started. And now almost 2 weeks later it’s almost gone. Luckily had the 3 symptoms. My mum had the same as me and dd13 has luckily not caught it… although she looked a bit pale tonight and seemed a bit different. I asked her if she was okay and she said her ear was hurting a bit, checked her temp and that was all good. Maybe the week just catching up on her. She’s asleep already and luckily she’s 13 now so can manage herself better when I’ll. we were at the hospital 5 days ago and it was full of kids with coughs. Throwing up from the coughing. We were only there for an X-ray… probably along with another lad who injured his finger the least sick there.

ohfourfoxache · 12/12/2025 22:58

DS1 (10) started feeling off last Friday night (ie a week ago). Has barely eaten all week (only really started wanting anything at all late last night), temperature, nausea, diarrhoea, looks horrendous. He had the flu vaccine (always does) but but he’s never had flu before

I started feeling low- level rubbish on Thursday, been jabbed, but I’ve had flu at least once before, so hoping it’s given me some immunity

Its a really, really bad one unfortunately 😩

Hannalucinda · 13/12/2025 06:32

Hi I'm a A&E nurse (on mat leave tho!) Everyone else's advice is correct it's possibly flu but if her mouth smells bad it could be tonsillitis. I would phone 111 and try an OOH GP appointment. Then they can tell you for sure?
Mask up of you can to be safe!

HelenaWaiting · 13/12/2025 06:41

Whywhywhyyyy · 12/12/2025 01:02

Yes absolutely, he’s perked up now and we are all in the bed. But yes his breathing was quite fast. Just so sudden!!

Was panicking it might be allergy as so fast. And he seems to have too much energy for flu.

But then I remembered we have this new flu and was wondering what other people are like with that?

Show quote history

It isn't a "new flu". It's H3N2, a known flu variant that mutates quickly and frequently, hence its resistance to the vaccine. Hospital is not necessary unless the temperature will not come down with analgesics, or the patient is struggling to breathe. You are doing all the right things. Please ignore the people advising you to give a higher dose of Calpol. If his temp is coming down with the current dose a higher dose is unnecessary.

JustAnotherOpinion123 · 13/12/2025 07:07

Currently in hospital with my DD2 (weird to say as its her 2nd birthday today) who tested positive for flu. The ups and downs of it totally threw me too - took her to the doctors on Mon and by the time we got her there, she was fine, drove her to A&E twice and she perked right up so I turned around. Took her back to the doctors on day 4 and her oxygen levels were below 90 so we got rushed into hospital.
She does have a history of breathing difficulties so not at all suggesting that you need to get your little to hospital though!

All the symptoms that have been mentioned are ones she's had - cough, high temp for 5 days, fatigue, D&V, not eating and drinking.
Set to have a very miserable birthday bless her!

JustAnotherOpinion123 · 13/12/2025 07:09

Ps ibuprofen was most effective bringing her temp down and perking her up

CraftyWasp · 13/12/2025 07:28

We had flu the week after half term, first time the household has ever caught it. All but 1 of us caught it, 2 of which were vaccinated. Our son is asthmatic, (4) and was vaccinated but still was minutes away from being in an ambulance as we really struggled to get his breathing under controll, and it almost led to a full blown asthma attack (managed to stop it after about 5 doses of reliver). Having never caught it before it was an eye opener!

Checknotmymate · 13/12/2025 07:33

We are waiting until this week to get it. All the Xmas events will be over. Work moves fully online. We've done most of the things we need to do so my body will relax and then will be slammed with it no doubt. Then I will be ill for 2-3 weeks and well enough just in time to go back to the grindstone.

ThisZanyPinkSquid · 13/12/2025 07:36

Smell on their breath. Check their tonsils. X