Mum shares warning about unexpected flu symptom to keep an eye on

She urged parents to keep an eye out for it.

In the middle of the fifth-worse flu season in Ireland since records began in 2000, one mum's warning about an unexpected influenza symptom has gone viral. Mum-of-two Brodi Willard explained how her son came home from school one day with what she thought were hives. But when she noticed that the hives weren't going away - and were, in fact, getting worse - she decided to ring his paediatrician's office. She wrote:

"Every time he would scratch, more would appear. We tried changing his clothes and giving him a bath, but nothing helped. "I called his pediatrician. They said they had two kids come into the office that day with the same symptoms and tested POSITIVE FOR INFLUENZA."

She decided to take her son - who had none of the typical symptoms of the flu - to the doctor to get tested. Her post continued:

I took him to the doctor this morning, and he tested POSITIVE for INFLUENZA B. He has had NO symptoms. "No fever, no cough, and no runny nose. He only has hives. Please keep watch on your children so if they develop hives, please call your pediatrician. "I have never heard of this symptom but it is obviously something to be on the lookout for."

Brodie's post, which included a photo of her son's hive-covered arm, was been shared more than 250,000 times since it was posted last Friday.