Child Treated For Flu. Started Feeling Dizzy, Lethargic And Looks Pale. Underlying Cause?

Posted on Fri, 1 Mar 2013

Question: My 5 year old just got over the flu but now is extremely pale, dizzy, not eating, irritable and just not himself. What could this be? He is also very lethargic.

Answered by Dr. Luchuo Engelbert Bain (2 hours later)

Hi,

After a flu, which is generally caused by viruses, the child could be very tired or lethargic - this is a commonly found symptom. However, if the child becomes really pale and irritable, the cause of the flu like symptoms could be some thing else like a bacterial infection. If the child has visited a tropical country lately, it could be worth testing for malaria.
However if not, a bacterial infection or septicemia is worth being excluded.
Pallor deserves measuring of his hemoglobin levels to know whether he is anemic or not. Anemia can lead to severe fatigue.

I would suggest you visit your family for a proper physical examination, This shall aid help in localizing a cause of a probable bacterial infection, blood tests shall help in ascertaining the severity of the infection if any. Blood hemoglobin levels shall be important in excluding anemia. But after a flu, severe lethargy in some rare situations might be found. It is worth consulting your family doctor to exclude infection/septicemia and anemia before ascribing these symptoms to a flu.

Thanks as I pray this helps, Will be honored answering further questions if need be,

Best regards and health to your baby,
Luchuo, MD.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad