Who's at Risk?
Believe it or not everyone is susceptible to influenza. From infants to the elderly, influenza knows no bounds. In saying this, there are people who will find it easier to be contaminated and people who are more likely to become seriously unwell and/ or die from an influenza virus. These are people with an underlying medical condition
or reduced immunity. They include:
• Anyone aged 65 years and older
• Children under five years
• Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over
• People aged six months or older with heart disease, chronic lung disease (such as asthma or emphysema), chronic neurological conditions, Down syndrome, impaired immunity or haemoglobinopathies (blood disorders caused by genetic changes)
• People with chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, alcoholism and kidney disease
• Residents in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities
• People who are homeless
• People with severe asthma who require frequent hospital visits
• Children on long-term aspirin therapy
In Australia, such people can receive free vaccinations.
• Anyone aged 65 years and older
• Children under five years
• Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over
• People aged six months or older with heart disease, chronic lung disease (such as asthma or emphysema), chronic neurological conditions, Down syndrome, impaired immunity or haemoglobinopathies (blood disorders caused by genetic changes)
• People with chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, alcoholism and kidney disease
• Residents in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities
• People who are homeless
• People with severe asthma who require frequent hospital visits
• Children on long-term aspirin therapy
In Australia, such people can receive free vaccinations.
Complications Surrounding Influenza
Complications are more common among people with an underlying medical condition or an impaired immune system. Influenza can increase the risk of death or the risk of serious complications from the underlying disease. In a small proportion of cases, flu may lead to primary influenza pneumonia – symptoms include difficulty with breathing and cyanosis. It can also lead to secondary bacterial pneumonia – which occurs when bacteria invade the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, green or yellow phlegm (mucous), chest pains and a temperature. Death rates are high, but it is less lethal than primary influenza pneumonia. Inflammation of the brain or heart is another complication surrounding influenza– it can occur during recovery from the flu. Reye’s syndrome is a complication that leads to brain inflammation and liver degeneration and is fatal in between 10 and 40 per cent of cases. Children under 16 years should not be given any medication containing aspirin as it increases the risk of Reye’s syndrome.