What is Influenza?
Influenza (also called flu) is a viral infection that attacks the nose, throat and lungs. Flu symptoms usually last three to seven days.
The flu is different from a cold and typically causes more severe symptoms and complications than cold viruses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 36,000 Americans die each year of complications from the flu and more than 200,000 are hospitalized. Influenza usually comes on suddenly and may include these symptoms:
- Fever (often 101 to 103 degrees F)
- Body aches
- Chills and sweats
- Dry cough
- Headache
- Tiredness and weakness (can be extreme)
- Loss of appetite
- Sore throat
- Nasal congestion
Who gets the Flu?
Anyone of any age can become infected with the flu virus. However, certain people are at increased risk for influenza-related complications and severe cases of flu. This group includes:
- children ages 6 months up to their 19th birthday
- pregnant women
- people age 50 and older
- healthcare professionals
- people of any age with chronic medical conditions (like asthma, heart disease, diabetes and emphysema)
- people whose immune systems may be weakened, from things such as HIV, cancer or an organ transplant
- people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- people who live in a household with or provide care to a child less than 5 years old, an adult 50 or older, or someone who is at high risk for influenza complications
It is particularly important for individuals in these high-risk categories to receive flu vaccine each and every year to help prevent developing the flu.
