Sienna Rose Pereira dies of the flu

Her broken parents noticed that the two-year-old girl had become visibly ill earlier this month.

Deeply concerned about the symptoms that Sienna was displaying, the doctor immediately sent her to the Sydney Children's Hospital in Westmead.

But her condition deteriorated and she died 24 hours later last Sunday. Sienna had developed a high fever and swelling was developing around her brain while she was being treated in the hospital. She was vaccinated and was one of 19 other children admitted to the Sydney Children's Hospital, Westmead, between April 3 and July 8 with influenza

. State authorities say Sienna's death should be a warning shot for parents who have not vaccinated their children – because the worst of this year's flu season is still to come up.

The children [admitted to Westmead] were eligible for the free influenza vaccine, but only two of them had been fully immunized against the flu, "said Dr. Kerry Chant, New Brunswick Chief of Public Health. South and influenza A (H1N1), which strikes mainly children and young adults, is the main strain circulating in the community. "

The tragic death of Sienna is the first of the influenza season of 2018 affecting a child . A strain that was at the center of the 2009 pandemic.

The beginning of the flu season was slow in New South Wales, with 256 confirmed cases the week ending July 8 vs. 6449 cases in 2017.

Nearly every 2 56 cases contracted influenza A, the main strain circulating in New South Wales, affecting mainly children and young adults.

In May, the country's doctors had to ration the shots of the most vulnerable because of unprecedented demand. Health officials said they had become victims of their own success, doctors, the Australian Medical Association and government efforts to encourage people to get vaccinated so that they can not no longer follow the pace.

However, after the tragic death last Sunday, Dr. Chant was keen to point out that there was "plenty" of supplies for children under five years old.

"This is an important reminder to parents who have not yet vaccinated their children against the flu.

HOW TO KNOW IF THIS IS A COLD OR A FLU? [19659003] Influenza symptoms can strike children out of nowhere, but there is no danger, are often cues that c According to the vice president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr. Tony Bartone, the virus can progress quite rapidly in people of all ages, usually in a matter of hours or a day. "Dr. Bartone told news.com.au in response to the killer flu season of the year last. "It usually starts with feeling sniff and there will be minor pains, they are also the symptoms of a cold, so it's often hard to tell the difference at first.

" However, if you notice that your child starts having a high fever, muscle spasms in the back of the head or legs and they have trouble getting out of bed, so that's probably the flu and you should probably make a call and obtain medical advice.

"If they do not respond to Panadol or other medicines to treat a high fever, they do not respond to liquids or retain them, they become dizzy and have trouble breathing, then the symptoms of the flu became serious and you should contact your doctor. "

Although influenza A subtype (H3N2) – which was named as the deadliest strain of the virus in the record flu season from last year – is more difficult to protect against a vaccine, it is still our best barrier against the virus.

"It's the only thing we need to protect ourselves and our children," Dr. Bartone says, "We know that children, unlike the rest of the population, do not tend to be vaccinated – with free vaccinations of 10% in some areas of Washington. And we know that children between six months and two years are more susceptible to flu complications.

"Children also tend to have a lot of physical contact between themselves and their parents, so we have to make sure we are hygienic as possible. It means coughing and throwing tissues, washing your hands and keeping your immune system in check by not lying down and eating healthy. "