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Facts about Influenza

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We've all experienced it--lying in bed with a fever, muscle aches, and a number of other uncomfortable symptoms. It's the virus that no one wants, but everybody gets: influenza. Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that is caused by influenza viruses. Every year in the United States, 5%-20% of the population gets the flu. Of those people, 200,000 are hospitalized for flu complications and 36,000 die. The symptoms of the flu include: fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, or stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions are at a higher risk of suffering complications from the flu. Complications from the flu can include bacterial pneumonia, dehydrations, or worsening of chronic medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Children suffering complications may have sinus problems or ear infections. The flu is spread through the respiratory droplets that occur from coughing and sneezing. These droplets are usually spread from person to person, but are also sometimes spread by a person touching an object with flu viruses on it and then touching their nose or mouth. Healthy adults are contagious 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick.

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