Flu has been causing hallucinations in children, Vernon pediatrician says

A Vernon pediatrician has written a post for Interior Health about the flu and how it is causing hallucinations in children.

Dr. Kathryn MacKinlay shared a recent conversation with her young daughter who experienced this phenomenon while she was sick with the flu this year.

• “Mommy, Mommy, make it stop!”
• “Make what stop?”
• “It’s loud. They’re yelling!”
• “Shhhhh, sweetie, no one is yelling.”
• “Stop, stop, aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh.”

MacKinley says most parents would likely be terrified upon seeing their child in such distress, flailing, yelling and confused, but not her.

“As an emergency doctor I have seen many other kids hallucinating these last few weeks while sick with Influenza A,” she explained.

“Our emergency department has been visited by children hearing loud sounds, seeing objects as too large or too far away, and feeling scared that someone or something is trying to hurt them.”

Those young patients have all ended up being influenza positive, she said.

"I wanted to warn other parents, but also provide reassurance that your little one will be okay,” MacKinlay added.

“Thankfully, these episodes of delirium are brief and do not require treatment. As long as Marissa wasn’t confused or scared between these episodes, there was nothing I could do other than offer cuddles.”

However, there are times when you will want to bring your young child into the emergency department if they are displaying serious enough flu symptoms.

MacKinlay outlines a few characteristics of breathing problems, fever or rashes that can act as a signal that a trip to the ER is necessary.

You can learn more about those symptoms and read MacKinlay’s entire letter through the IH website.