According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
“Anyone can get flu, but certain people are more likely to develop serious flu illness that can result in hospitalization or even death. Those people include:
- Children younger than 5 years, but especially younger than 2 years old
- Adults 65 years of age and older
- Pregnant women (and women up to two weeks postpartum)
- Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
Also, people who have certain chronic medical conditions, including:
- Asthma
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions (including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy [seizure disorders], stroke, intellectual disability [mental retardation], moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury)
- Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
- Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
- Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
- Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
- Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
- People younger than 19 years of age who are taking aspirin or salicylate-containing medications
- People with extreme obesity (body mass index [BMI} of 40 or greater)”
Children – Complications From Flu
According to the CDC:
“Complications from flu among children in younger than 5 years old can include:
- Pneumonia: an illness where the lungs get infected and inflamed
- Dehydration: when a child’s body loses too much water and salts, often because fluid losses are greater than from fluid intake)
- Worsening of long-term medical problems like heart disease or asthma
- Brain dysfunction such as encephalopathy
- Sinus problems and ear infections
- In rare cases, flu complications can lead to death.”
Pregnant Women – When To Seek Urgent Care
According to the CDC:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse
- Seizures
- Not urinating
- Severe muscle pain
- Severe weakness or unsteadiness
- Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen
- High fever that is not responding to Tylenol® (or store brand equivalent)
- Decreased or no movement of your baby
Things To Do To Prevent The Flu
In the recent flu alert, the Ministry of Health provided these tips:
- Avoid close contact to prevent getting sick too
- Stay home when sick
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing
- Wash your hands often with soap and water to help protect you from germs
- Keep dirty hands away from your eyes, mouth and nose
- Practice good health habits – exercise, eat healthy, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids. See here for 5 Cold and Flu Prevention Tips
See here for CDC links related to the flu.