Greater than 100 kids have died of the flu this season, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention reported Friday.The variety of pediatric deaths — 103 thus far — is just not a seasonal report. Whereas youngsters with underlying well being issues are extra in danger for extreme outcomes from the flu, the newest CDC numbers present a stark reminder that flu can certainly be devastating to any youngster.“That is actually sobering info, but it surely’s not one thing essentially sudden,” mentioned Alicia Budd, head of the CDC’s home influenza surveillance staff.Greater than half of the kids who died (53%) had no medical points earlier than their influenza an infection, Budd mentioned.Among the many 10 new pediatric deaths in the latest report, most died inside the previous few weeks, Budd mentioned.Though instances appear to be peaking throughout the nation, flu season is just not over. The CDC estimates that the nation has logged no less than 28 million flu sicknesses, leading to 310,000 hospitalizations thus far this yr. Along with the 103 pediatric deaths, about 20,000 others have died of flu.“There’s a widespread false impression amongst households that flu is simply one other chilly virus, and that it’s no large deal,” mentioned Dr. Kristina Bryant, a pediatric infectious illness doctor at Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Kentucky.“I’ve taken care of youngsters who’re critically sick within the intensive care unit with flu,” Bryant mentioned. “I’ve taken care of youngsters who’ve in the end died from flu. And virtually universally, their dad and mom inform me, ‘I had no concept that flu might do that to my youngster.’”Small airways, large immune reactionThe overwhelming majority of youngsters contaminated with flu yearly get well. One of many virus’ largest mysteries is the way it can rapidly and swiftly kill in any other case wholesome and strong kids with out warning.Youngsters have smaller airways, so respiratory turns into compromised as soon as a virus infects and inflames these airways, mentioned Dr. Alexandra Yonts, a pediatric infectious illnesses doctor at Kids’s Nationwide Hospital in Washington, D.C.Kids’s immune techniques are superprimed to assault any new germ that comes their manner, mentioned Yont. Typically these immune responses go too far.As with a number of viral sicknesses, greater than something it’s the physique’s immune response that determines the severity of the signs.“There’s one thing about influenza that’s notably immunogenic to our our bodies and may create these large cytokine storms and fevers that find yourself touchdown youngsters within the ICU with a sepsis-like image,” Yont mentioned.Flu vaccines for youths efficient this yearThe CDC’s Budd mentioned that almost 90% of the kids who died of flu this yr weren’t absolutely vaccinated. For most children, this implies only one shot per yr. However youngsters youthful than age 8 want two doses in the event that they’ve by no means acquired the flu shot earlier than.Simply over 50% of youngsters acquired the flu shot this season, barely decrease than 53.3% final yr. Preliminary CDC knowledge reveals the vaccine is as much as 61% efficient in protecting youngsters with flu out of the hospital.Really helpful“The vaccine can cut back the chance of a kid needing to have a medical go to by about two-thirds,” Budd mentioned. “And it may cut back their threat of hospitalization by about half.”Specialists can’t predict which flu virus strains could be extra virulent in any given yr. About half of the pediatric deaths within the 2023-24 season had been as a result of an influenza A pressure, the CDC reported, whereas 47 had been attributed to an influenza B pressure. One youngster had each A and B strains.The 2014-15 flu season was a very extreme one which took the lives of 141 kids. Gianna Wehrkamp, a wonderfully wholesome and energetic 2-year-old, was one in all them.It was Jan. 8, 2015, when Gianna got here house from day care with a slight fever — not even 100 levels. Her mom, Angie Wehrkamp, mentioned Gianna was enjoying usually and didn’t act like something was flawed. “She was simply as bossy as all the time,” she mentioned.The subsequent morning, the usually smiley, spunky little woman was not herself.“She simply regarded like she didn’t really feel good,” Wehrkamp, 46, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, mentioned. “You would see it on her face.”A visit to the physician revealed that Gianna had influenza A. The physician assured Wehrkamp that Gianna would quickly be on the mend.Gianna spent the day resting at house along with her beloved teddy bear named “Canine” and watched cartoons; “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and “Frozen” had been favorites. Gianna perked up a bit at dinner, consuming black olives one after the other off of the ideas of her fingers. Her fever by no means rose above 101 levels.At bedtime, Wehrkamp mentioned that Gianna’s lungs sounded “a bit rattly,” so she introduced the little woman into her mattress to control her in a single day.“Round 2 a.m., I awoke and he or she was not respiratory,” Wehrkamp mentioned. It took paramedics practically an hour to get Gianna’s coronary heart beating once more.By then, it was too late.Lower than 48 hours after she began exhibiting signs, Gianna died of influenza.“All of it simply occurred so quick,” Wehrkamp mentioned. “We didn’t know that wholesome kids might lose their lives to the flu.”The little woman hadn’t acquired the flu shot the yr she died.“We had each intention of getting Gianna vaccinated,” her mom mentioned. “Nevertheless it simply type of fell off the radar as busy dad and mom, and sadly we paid the final word worth for that. Failing to make {that a} precedence will eternally be my best remorse.”Erika Edwards is a well being and medical information author and reporter for NBC Information and “TODAY.”