The flu--in any form--should not be taken lightly. Unlike its partner in crime, the common cold, this seasonal offender boasts a rap sheet rife with serious, even fatal, complications.
Ah, cold and flu. the pair are so often mentioned in tandem it's as though they've become one all-encompassing term in the popular vernacular: coldandflu. they are the brangelina of seasonal illnesses (though not nearly as pleasant to look at).
Not that the link isn't understandable: the two viral infections share many of the same symptoms-- from the stuffy nose to the hacking cough to the scratchy sore throat-- and both are most likely to strike in the winter months. However, whereas common cold complications (e. g. sinusitis, bronchitis, ear infections) are rarely life-threatening and are usually easily treated at home with prescription medication, the health implications of influenza can be much more serious, leading to hospitalization and even death.
Worldwide, annual flu epidemics are thought to be responsible for anywhere between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths each year. in Canada alone, approximately 10 to 25 per cent of the population fall ill over the course a typical flu season, resulting in 20,000 hospitalizations and 4,000 deaths, on average. during severe influenza A outbreaks, those statistics can jump significantly: Up to 50 per cent of Canadians may become infected, leading to 30,000 to 40,000 hospitalizations and a staggering 6,000 to 8,000 deaths.
As with the cold, flu complications can include ear infections and sinusitis, but their reach extends even further to the following, more serious ailments: myositis (muscle inflammation), pericarditis (an infection of the sac surrounding the heart), dehydration and infections of the central nervous system. they can also lead to a worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma and diabetes.
The most prevalent and deadly complication of the flu is pneumonia, an infection of the lungs in which the alveoli (air sacs) fill with pus and mucus. this inflammation reduces the lungs' elasticity, prohibiting oxygen from reaching the blood stream properly. pneumonia typically presents as one of two types--viral or bacterial--both of which can have serious health implications.
Viral pneumonia is the lesser of the two evils. its symptoms, which include (but are not limited to) a low-grade fever, coughing up small amounts of mucus, fatigue and muscle aches, tend to come on slowly and are usually mild enough that they will improve without medical intervention--though in some more extreme cases, hospitalization may become necessary. in those situations, antiviral drugs are prescribed as treatment.
Bacterial pneumonia is far more worrisome. it causes people to feel very sick, very quickly. the most common symptoms are an expulsive cough that produces rust-or green-coloured phlegm, a high fever (up to 41 C), chills, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pains and bluish lips or fingernails due to lack of oxygen. bacterial pneumonia is commonly caused by the bacteria streptococcus pneumonaie and can be treated at home with antibiotics but may sometimes require a hospital stay for special respiratory therapy or intravenous treatment.
A less common, but equally serious complication of the flu is reye's syndrome, which occurs exclusively in children under the age of 18 who have been given salicylates (aspirin) as treatment, usually for fever. reye's syndrome causes damage to the central nervous system and liver, and can be fatal. Never give aspirin to children or teenagers with the flu unless you are specifically instructed to do so by a doctor.
The highest rates of secondary infection and clinical illness following the flu are found in children, but serious complications and deaths occur mainly in the elderly over 65 years of age. Other high-risk populations include pregnant women and those with preexisting health conditions, such as chronic heart, liver or kidney disease, asthma or chronic lung disease, blood disorders, diabetes, severe obesity or a weakened immune system due to cancer or HiV/AidS.
People with these risk factors should call their doctor immediately upon the appearance of flu-like symptoms. Antiviral flu medications, such as tamiflu or relenza, are helpful in reducing one's chance of developing complications. though these drugs won't cure the flu, they can reduce the amount of time you're sick by one or two days and make you less contagious to others if taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Better yet, the government of Canada encourages all Canadians, especially those with an increased risk for complications from influenza, to get the flu shot annually as well as the H1N1 vaccine. the pneumococcal vaccine, which provides immunity against 23 types of bacteria that commonly cause pneumonia, is also recommended for the aforementioned high-risk groups except pregnant women as its safety for that population has yet to be fully evaluated.
A TURN FOR THE WORSE...
Seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the following severe flu symptoms.
- persistent fever (>3 days)
- painful swallowing
- persistent cough (>2 to 3 weeks)
- persistent congestion (>1 week)
- bloody mucus or spit
- Severe chest pain
- Shortness of breath, rapid or difficulty breathing
- Symptoms (e. g. fever, cough) improve but then return, worse than before.
- Low blood pressure
- blue/grey lips or skin
- Sudden dizziness or confusion
- Severe headache
- infrequent urination
- Frequent vomiting
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Information courtesy of the National Post for public health benefit. Feb. 17, 2010
Ah, cold and flu. the pair are so often mentioned in tandem it's as though they've become one all-encompassing term in the popular vernacular: coldandflu. they are the brangelina of seasonal illnesses (though not nearly as pleasant to look at).
Not that the link isn't understandable: the two viral infections share many of the same symptoms-- from the stuffy nose to the hacking cough to the scratchy sore throat-- and both are most likely to strike in the winter months. However, whereas common cold complications (e. g. sinusitis, bronchitis, ear infections) are rarely life-threatening and are usually easily treated at home with prescription medication, the health implications of influenza can be much more serious, leading to hospitalization and even death.
Worldwide, annual flu epidemics are thought to be responsible for anywhere between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths each year. in Canada alone, approximately 10 to 25 per cent of the population fall ill over the course a typical flu season, resulting in 20,000 hospitalizations and 4,000 deaths, on average. during severe influenza A outbreaks, those statistics can jump significantly: Up to 50 per cent of Canadians may become infected, leading to 30,000 to 40,000 hospitalizations and a staggering 6,000 to 8,000 deaths.
As with the cold, flu complications can include ear infections and sinusitis, but their reach extends even further to the following, more serious ailments: myositis (muscle inflammation), pericarditis (an infection of the sac surrounding the heart), dehydration and infections of the central nervous system. they can also lead to a worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma and diabetes.
The most prevalent and deadly complication of the flu is pneumonia, an infection of the lungs in which the alveoli (air sacs) fill with pus and mucus. this inflammation reduces the lungs' elasticity, prohibiting oxygen from reaching the blood stream properly. pneumonia typically presents as one of two types--viral or bacterial--both of which can have serious health implications.
Viral pneumonia is the lesser of the two evils. its symptoms, which include (but are not limited to) a low-grade fever, coughing up small amounts of mucus, fatigue and muscle aches, tend to come on slowly and are usually mild enough that they will improve without medical intervention--though in some more extreme cases, hospitalization may become necessary. in those situations, antiviral drugs are prescribed as treatment.
Bacterial pneumonia is far more worrisome. it causes people to feel very sick, very quickly. the most common symptoms are an expulsive cough that produces rust-or green-coloured phlegm, a high fever (up to 41 C), chills, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pains and bluish lips or fingernails due to lack of oxygen. bacterial pneumonia is commonly caused by the bacteria streptococcus pneumonaie and can be treated at home with antibiotics but may sometimes require a hospital stay for special respiratory therapy or intravenous treatment.
A less common, but equally serious complication of the flu is reye's syndrome, which occurs exclusively in children under the age of 18 who have been given salicylates (aspirin) as treatment, usually for fever. reye's syndrome causes damage to the central nervous system and liver, and can be fatal. Never give aspirin to children or teenagers with the flu unless you are specifically instructed to do so by a doctor.
The highest rates of secondary infection and clinical illness following the flu are found in children, but serious complications and deaths occur mainly in the elderly over 65 years of age. Other high-risk populations include pregnant women and those with preexisting health conditions, such as chronic heart, liver or kidney disease, asthma or chronic lung disease, blood disorders, diabetes, severe obesity or a weakened immune system due to cancer or HiV/AidS.
People with these risk factors should call their doctor immediately upon the appearance of flu-like symptoms. Antiviral flu medications, such as tamiflu or relenza, are helpful in reducing one's chance of developing complications. though these drugs won't cure the flu, they can reduce the amount of time you're sick by one or two days and make you less contagious to others if taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Better yet, the government of Canada encourages all Canadians, especially those with an increased risk for complications from influenza, to get the flu shot annually as well as the H1N1 vaccine. the pneumococcal vaccine, which provides immunity against 23 types of bacteria that commonly cause pneumonia, is also recommended for the aforementioned high-risk groups except pregnant women as its safety for that population has yet to be fully evaluated.
A TURN FOR THE WORSE...
Seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the following severe flu symptoms.
- persistent fever (>3 days)
- painful swallowing
- persistent cough (>2 to 3 weeks)
- persistent congestion (>1 week)
- bloody mucus or spit
- Severe chest pain
- Shortness of breath, rapid or difficulty breathing
- Symptoms (e. g. fever, cough) improve but then return, worse than before.
- Low blood pressure
- blue/grey lips or skin
- Sudden dizziness or confusion
- Severe headache
- infrequent urination
- Frequent vomiting
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information courtesy of the National Post for public health benefit. Feb. 17, 2010
