HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- With many parents getting their trick-or-treaters ready to go door-to-door in the next few days, doctors say it's important to remember we're in one of the worst flu seasons in a long time.

They add, however, that you shouldn't let your fears keep you and your children from having a great Halloween.

Michele Jesse of Huntington said her daughter Angeline had the flu, but was able to bounce back just in time for trick-or-treat.

"We're very fortunate to be having Halloween," she said. "We're not really sure if we’d be over it yet."

The problem for Jesse and countless other parents this year is how to still have a fun Halloween while staying safe from the flu.

Meanwhile, Eva Reed of Huntington says the thought of coming down with the swine flu is much scarier than any Halloween costume. That fear nearly kept her family from going out this Halloween.

"Actually, at first we weren't going to do anything, but I think we're going to go out," Reed said.

Dr. Amira Khokar is a pediatrician with St. Mary’s Medical Center. She said even though this flu season is worse than past years, parents can still let their kids enjoy Halloween while staying healthy.

"I don't think you should be concerned about getting swine flu trick-or-treating," Khokar said. "I think you just need to be aware. Wash your hands. If you're sick, don't hand out the candy to the kids."

Here are a few extra tips before you head out this Halloween:

• Bring hand sanitizer with you as you go trick-or-treating. Use it after each stop, especially if your child is the one touching the candy or door bell.
  
• Try to have one person hand out the candy. It's much safer allowing the person handing out the candy to do the work, rather than having dozens of little kids stick their hand in the candy bucket each time.
  
• Wash your hands after trick or treating.
  
• Don't allow your child to share masks or costumes.
  
• If your child is showing symptoms of the flu or just recovering and not quite 100 percent, keep them inside on trick-or-treat night.