Elderly, very young at risk for flu virus
DEAR DOCTOR: I thought the elderly were at the greatest risk of flu-related death, but I’ve seen more than a few headlines about children who have died. Who’s more at risk?
DEAR READER: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, several elderly patients and at least one child have died already from flu-related causes in October. It’s not the flu itself that is so dangerous, but the complications that can arise.
The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. It can infect the nose, throat and lungs, resulting in symptoms that range from mild to quite severe. Symptoms include fever, chills, sore throat, a persistent cough, congestion of the lungs and sinuses, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and even diarrhea and vomiting.
The majority of us will recover in a few days up to a week or two. But for some individuals, the disease progresses in ways that can be life-threatening.
Older adults are at greater risk of both the flu as well as complications from the disease. After age 65, our immune systems are no longer as robust. The same is true
of children. Those younger than 5, and particularly those younger than 2, are at risk of serious complications. Others at risk include pregnant women; individuals with certain medical conditions, like asthma, diabetes, chronic lung and heart disease; and anyone with a suppressed immune system due to chronic disease or immunosuppressive medical treatment.
For those at high risk, a range of complications includes bronchitis, sinus infections, ear infections and pneumonia. Even more grave is the chance of developing myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, and encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.
According to the CDC, children who have received a flu vaccine lower their risk of hospitalization due to complications by 74 percent. In people 50 and older, that risk drops by 57 percent. Yes, the vaccine carries potential side effects. But these are mild, not very common and last just a day or two. When you compare these side effects to the discomfort and potential health risks of the flu, it’s a fair trade-off.
Elizabeth Ko, M.D., is an internist and primary care physician at UCLA Health.