 [ Symptoms ] my daughter cries after and sometimes while eating [ Disease ] first the vast majority of people who think they have the flu influenza do not and not all viral infections are the same non medical people often call any illness associated with fever or body aches as the flu children can spread influenza true lab diagnosed influenza for about a week several days longer than adults adults and children can also be contagious a day before they develop influenza tamiflu does reduce viral shedding if taking early in the first 2 days schools and day care facilities tend to make up their own rules often without any medical consultation allowing a child to return to school 24 hours after a fever has resolved is not a valid parameter for all illnesses including the flu children should return to school when they are well not just fever free <link>