Are You at Increased Risk for Flue Complications?
Flu vaccine is recommended for all healthy adults and children, but it is even more important for those with risk factors. These health and age factors are known to increase a person’s risk of getting serious complications from the flu:
- Asthma
- Neurological conditions
- Blood disorders
- Chronic lung disease
- Heart disease
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Extreme obesity
- People younger than age 19 on long-term aspirin therapy
- Weakened immune system due to disease or medications
- Adults ages 65 years and older
- Children younger than 5 years old, but especially younger than 2 years old
- Pregnant women and women up to two weeks after the end of pregnancy
American Indians and Alaska Natives are also at higher risk of flu complications.
Check with your doctor promptly if you have a high-risk condition and you get flue symptoms. Symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs to treat your flu illness and help shorten its duration.
–Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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