Health Risk Factors
Not everybody exposed to the flu viruses is going to get sick. In healthy people, the body is able to fight and eradicate the infection in the early stages to prevent any symptoms from occurring. Some individuals get seriously sick with influenza due to their age, medical conditions (immunocompromised diseases), or vaccination status.
- Age – Young children (particularly infants) and older adults are more prone to colds and flu and are more vulnerable to severe health complications.
- Medical history – Certain body conditions can make it more difficult for your body to combat illness or to be aggravated by the flu. Pregnant women and people with asthma, heart disease, immunocompromised diseases (diabetes, HIV infection, cancers) and neurological disorders are more likely than others to have serious illnesses such as flu.
- Vaccination status – There is a specific vaccine available for the different strains of flu. Forgoing an annual flu vaccine (recommended for people over six months of age) may increase your risk of becoming seriously ill with the flu. According to the statistics, about 80 percent of children who have died from influenza in recent years have not been vaccinated. Furthermore, research indicates that getting vaccinated annually will minimize the risk of a healthy child dying from influenza by almost two-thirds.
Cold, flu, and other respiratory illnesses may have many similar symptoms, but they are caused by different germs. Understanding the various viruses (strains) and how they can be avoided will help you protect yourself from becoming sick. This knowledge will also help you build a successful care plan with your doctor or clinician if you do become infected.