Keeping Your Family Healthy This Cold & Flu Season
Nemours Children’s Health is here for moms every step of the way.
As winter settles in and cold and flu viruses make their rounds through schools and playgrounds, parents across Central Florida are doing everything they can to keep their little ones healthy. From runny noses to persistent coughs, it can feel like an endless cycle—but knowing what to watch for and when to seek care makes all the difference.
We partnered with Nemours Children’s Health to bring you expert guidance on navigating this season’s illnesses. Whether you’re wondering if it’s just a cold or something more serious, looking for prevention tips to protect your family, or need advice on managing symptoms at home, Nemours’ pediatric specialists share practical, parent-friendly advice to help you feel confident caring for your kids.
From understanding the latest on flu vaccines and RSV to knowing when a fever warrants a call to the doctor, this comprehensive guide covers everything Orlando parents need to know to get through cold and flu season with less stress and more peace of mind. Because when it comes to your children’s health, having trusted experts in your corner matters.
Nemours Children’s Health has been serving families across Central Florida for decades, offering world-class pediatric care with locations throughout the Orlando area.
How to Help Your Kids Stay Healthy This Flu Season
Here are five expert-backed tips from Nemours Children’s health professionals to help your family stay well this winter:
1. Handwashing: The First Line of Defense
2. Cover Coughs and Sneezes the Right Way
3. Wear a Mask When Sick
4. Keep Kids Home With a Fever
5. Get the Flu Vaccine — Every Year
Is It a Cold, Flu, COVID-19, or RSV? What Parents Need to Know.
Does your child seem to have a never-ending runny nose or cough? It may just be another cold—healthy kids can get 6–10 colds a year. But during the winter, when several different viruses are going around, it could be something more serious like the flu, COVID-19, or RSV.
So how can you tell the difference? Here’s what you need to know about the symptoms, what to look for, and when to call your pediatrician.
Instead of focusing on which virus it is, focus on how sick your child seems.
|
Symptom |
Flu |
COVID-19 |
RSV |
|
Fever |
Common (high) |
Common |
Sometimes |
|
Cough |
Common (dry, severe) |
Common (dry or wet) |
Common (wet, persistent) |
|
Runny Nose |
Sometimes |
Sometimes |
Very common |
|
Fatigue |
Common (severe) |
Sometimes (moderate) |
Sometimes (mild to moderate) |
|
Body Aches |
Common |
Sometimes |
Rare |
|
Loss of Taste/Smell |
Rare |
Common |
Rare |
|
Breathing Issues |
Rare |
Sometimes |
Common (in young kids) |
|
Duration |
5–7 days |
7–10 days |
7–14 days |
Connect with Nemours Children's Health
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Nemours Children’s makes it easy to find expert care close to home. Whether you’re scheduling a flu shot or looking for ongoing support, our pediatricians are here to help your child thrive.
Find a Nemours Children’s pediatrician near you.
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