The flu season may be reaching its peak, physicians at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center say. Visits to the Emergency Department reached an all time high this week.

Because of the large number of visits to the Emergency Department, Dr. Barry Gilmore recommends that parents contact their child's pediatrician before seeking medical care. Pediatricians will be able to best able to direct the parent to appropriate medical facility, whether it is the pediatrician's office, a Le Bonheur Urgent Care or the Emergency Department.

Click here for a complete list of Le Bonheur Urgent Care locations and hours of operation.

About the Flu:
Flu season runs from late fall through mid-winter and symptoms usually hit hard and fast. Those include fever, headache, muscle aches, dry cough, sore throat and weakness and fatigue.

Once symptoms occur, they typically last anywhere from three to seven days. To relieve your child's pain and symptoms, first, administer fluids and make sure your child is getting plenty of rest. Acetaminophen helps with the aches, pains and fever reduction. There are several anti-virals that can be prescribed by your doctor, but your child must be seen shortly after experiencing symptoms, as they are only beneficial in reducing the severity of the illness in the beginning stages.

The first recommendation for flu prevention is the vaccine, which is available to all healthy children age 6 months and older. There are two forms - the nasal dose and the injection.

• Nasal dose - for kids age 5 and older who have no underlying health issues such as asthma. It is a live virus, so there can sometimes be side effects.
• Injection dose - Most commonly used. First time doses of the injection should be administered in two doses, with four weeks between. Although there is some protection from the first dose, the second dose improves immunity most. After the first year dose of two injections, only one dose per year is needed. Parents who have kids with underlying health issues are advised to talk to their doctor about getting their child the vaccine. This form of the vaccine is not a live virus and symptoms are typically minimal.

Flu prevention is easy and in some cases, life-saving.

• Keep your children away from those with cold or flu symptoms.
• Teach your child how to cover his or her mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing.
• Remind children to wash their hands with soap and water regularly to avoid transmitting the virus.

If you have any questions regarding the flu vaccine or the flu, contact your pediatrician or healthcare provider.