Toddler flu nose spray - what to expect?

[Cdoc]

Just that really! DS is 2.5, nose spray booked for end of this month and will be his first one.
Medical appointments are quite traumatic for him due to a lot of illness last year.

He’s had side effects with all his standard immunisations but nothing with the chicken pox one thankfully. Nothing unusual with side effects, just the standard temp/ irritable.

Want to be prepared for this one and won’t make plans for the rest of the day if it’s likely he won’t enjoy them.

Thanks

He should be fine! My DS had his yesterday, it's a little spray thing, looks a bit like a small syringe. One spray in each nostril and done, I think it's a quite light spray. I just told DS it would be a funny tickly thing in his nose and he didn't complain so it must have been what he was expecting! He went for a gingerbread man and then straight back to nursery, no side effects or upset.

My DD usually gets a runny nose for a few hours.

Mostly they just complain about how unpleasant it is but they are teenagers now!

DD has never had any side effects.

We always ask us to tell us what it smells like to encourage a bit of a sniff.

Never any side effects, and she has it at school now and it's a non event really.

No side effects, no nothing really.

Unfortunately my ds reacts badly to the nasal flu spray, very high temp, boiling to touch, aching everywhere, bad headache. Usually lasts a good two days. Ds 15 now an still the same reaction. If your ds has reacted badly to other immunisations would err on the side of caution.

Never had any reaction to the flu spray, and he hasn't seemed to mind it. He had a mild fever from the baby vaccinations but not chicken pox.

It's nothing.

My DS has had it twice (he's 3). Both times it didn't bother him getting it done, and no side effects after.

@VividGreen can they not have the jab instead?

Thanks everyone for the insight, really helpful.

Obviously the sore needle site isn’t one with this so thats a positive! At least this sounds like the spray is a bit of a tickle rather than pain like a needle is. He’s in nursery so a runny nose is pretty much the norm anyway!

I also have a wee one with quite a few negative associations with medical settings. The flu spray really is pretty much a non-event, a matter of seconds, no needle, etc. I'd just focus on being in and out as quick as you can and managing his distress at medical settings however you usually do that. The tricky call for me is always how much warning to give, so have a think about when to tell him (but be kind to yourself if you get it wrong, been there, done that).

It’s a bit drippy. 🤷🏻‍♀️ That’s literally it. It’s very much a non-event. Mine just giggled getting it at that age.

@skkyelark thank you! It’s so difficult, we only have to walk into a doctors surgery/ pharmacy and he breaks down crying, so that’s definitely my worry, especially if they’re not running to time and we’re sat in the waiting room.

But it sounds like making it as quick as possible will be the best way. I’m not sure what’s worse, telling him before we leave, or when we get there 🙈

So at the same age, I told DD2 as we left nursery for the appointment and she sobbed all the way to the vaccination centre, all the way through the corridors, etc. So on that basis, unless he's a child who really needs to know what to expect when and will get really upset at an unexpected change, I'd go for basically as you arrive, ideally as a quick stop on the way to somewhere else.

Here, with vaccinations they can rearrange times quite easily, so it might be worth ringing and asking if you could be very early in the day so they are less likely to be running behind.

If DD2 is upset, once we are with the nurse, I say that she's had some bad experiences, so please be quick, as sometimes the nurse will try to set her at ease with a joke or asking about the animal on her shirt or whatever, which is lovely and just what you'd want them to do in most cases – but for DD2, with her history, quick and over is definitely better.

How did you get on @Cdoc ?

I just took DD2, now 3.5, and a world apart from last year – a bit withdrawn at the sight of scrubs, but no actual distress (although she did bring up some previous unpleasant experiences). The increase in understanding and ability to discuss it with her in more detail made a huge difference.

@skkyelark ah thank you for checking back in! I did take him Friday, appointment was 10.30 so not too late in the day. Bless him he did get very upset and I had to restrain him to keep him still (quite used to this as he had recurrent tonsillitis last year before having his tonsils out). Asked the nurse to pretend to give it to me which did help a bit I think, and it was so quick. He’s been very snotty this weekend but that seems to be the only side effect and quite possible he would’ve been snotty anyway given the majority of his nursery class are too.

I am so glad you had a more positive experience at 3.5. DS will be 3.5 if it’s the same time next year so I can hope we have the same experience then! We did then buy a new book about Peppa Pig getting a vaccination and have talked about it in a positive way since so I am hopeful for next year!

My two never had any side effects from the spray.

My 2 year old had the nasal flu vaccine on Friday afternoon, he seemed ok but last night (Saturday) he was fatigued and irritable and then he vomited. This morning (Sunday) he took in some foods and a little fluid and seemed to get energy back but has had another project like vomiting episode.

i am worried that this is due to the vaccine.

I’d say usually maybe a runny nose and slight fever after but usually last no more than 24 hours. A wee spray up each nostril and it’s done. X