Complications+of+the+Flu


 * scroll down to learn more about the complications that come with the flu**
 * Normal Symptoms of the Flu
 * sneezing
 * coughing
 * fever
 * headache
 * fatigue
 * sore throat
 * runny/ stuffy nose
 * achy or sore muscles
 * nausea, diarrhea, or other stomach related symptoms (more common in children than in adults)
 * Serious Side-effects of the Flu
 * bacterial pneumonia
 * ear infections
 * sinus infections
 * dehydration
 * more sever symptoms to chronic illnesses (diabetes, asthma, and congestive heart failure)
 * Reye's disease
 * bronchitis
 * croup (swelling or obstruction of the windpipe)
 * inflammation of the heart muscle


 * Flu
 * the flu may start off like the common cold- people assume they have the cold and start to spread the flu to people around them before they know they are infected- it can easily be spread to young children and elderly people who are at risk of dying from the flu
 * most children and adults 65 and older are hospitalized with the flu
 * young children can develop seizers caused by the high fevers that come with the Flu
 * complications increase with age
 * people with chronic illnesses (diabetes, asthma, Etc.) are more prone to experience sever side effects from the flu and can sometimes lead to death
 * most complications come from bacterial infections in the lower respiratory tract
 * bacterial pneumonia can be a side effect for healthy people after the flu virus has damaged the surface cells in the airways
 * complications usually occur after you feel better- after a short period you will fall with more severe symptoms
 * do not take aspirin to get rid of the pain during the flu- will cause Reye's syndrom- which can cause serious and permenate damage-
 * who is at the most risk of having serious complications?
 * young children
 * adults 65 and older
 * people living in nursing homes
 * children and adults with disorders of the lungs or heart
 * women who are in the second or third trimester
 * health-care workers


 * **information found at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm ... http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00081.html ... http://health.msn.com/encyclopedia/healthtopics/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100062827 ... http://www.solvay-influenza.com/aboutinfluenza/riskofinfluenza/0,,2653-2-0,00.htm ... http://www.dhpe.org/infect/flu.html ... http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/Flu/aboutFlu/Complications.htm**