Winter flu, also called influenza, is a respiratory illness that tends to rear its ugly head in October each year and it will continue into late May. The flu can range from mild to severe in individuals, and it may lead to death in some who acquire a strain of the virus. The question becomes, who is likely to come down with the winter flu?
Am I likely to get the flu, or are others more likely to come down with winter flu?
Every person is capable of acquiring the winter flu, and serious problems related to winter flu symptoms can occur at any age, but people are at a greater risk of developing serious winter flu related complications if they have the virus. At risk individuals include people over the age of sixty-five, people with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, pregnant women and young children.
Winter flu severity:
Winter flu can be unpredictable and the severity of it can vary wildly from one season to the next depending on many things, including:
- The specific winter flu viruses that are spreading.
- The available supplies of the flu vaccine for the public.
- The readiness of the flu vaccine for timely vaccinations.
- The number of people who choose to get vaccinated in a given winter flu season.
- The efficacy of the flu vaccine when it is matched to the flu viruses that are causing widespread illness.
Over a period of thirty-one flu seasons, estimates of flu deaths in the United States range from a low of 3,000 in a year, to a high of 49,000 people in one year. Ninety percent of all deaths from an influenza virus occur in people who are over the age of 65.
The blogging team from http://www.drsmartphonemd.com is unable to make direct recommendations regarding flu vaccinations or proper techniques for treating winter flu symptoms. Our belief is that readers need to use our articles as the starting point in developing their own plan of action, moving forward to review information on the appropriate medical websites. If a reader has a specific question or concern, we do recommend reaching out to a medical professional as soon as possible.
