viaprevention:
Flu overview
Influenza is a respiratory infection caused by flu viruses that travel through the air and enter the body through the nose or mouth. Five to 20 percent of Americans get the flu each year, and anyone is susceptible to the virus. During the 2017-2018 flu season, approximately 900,000 people were hospitalized and 80,000 people died due to flu complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Flu symptoms range from mild to severe and can include fever, chills, achy muscles, sore throat, cough, and headache. The flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu symptoms develop more suddenly.
What causes the fluWhen someone with the flu coughs or sneezes, droplets carrying the virus enter the air. You can catch the flu if you inhale these droplets through your nose or mouth, or if you touch objects such as doorknobs or keyboards that are contaminated with the virus and then touch your nose, eyes, or mouth.
Flu risk factors
Flu viruses are constantly changing, so if you’ve had influenza in the past, you may come down with it again. You are at greater risk of catching the flu and developing complications if you:
- are younger than 4
- are older than 65
- live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
- are pregnant or up to two weeks postpartum
- have a weakened immune system
- have a chronic illness
- have a body mass index of 40 or higher
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