How the flu can lead to death

Beginning back in October 2017, the deadly flu season started off with a vengeance in the United States. So far the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that 37 children have succumbed to the flu that is spread throughout 49 out of 50 states.

At this time, it appears the flu is not slowing down anytime soon. Flu activity peaks between December through February and can even last as late as May. Doctors and hospitals across the country are seeing high numbers of individuals filling up clinic waiting rooms or requiring hospitalization from this deadly influenza infection.

It has been warned that the most vulnerable victims of the flu are children under the age of 5 and adults over the age of 65. Also included in the high-risk group are pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions such as lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, and neurologic conditions.

However, everyone single one of us no matter what our age, is a potential victim of this year’s flu epidemic.

What causes a flu-related fatality?

Death from the flu is not necessarily an unusual incident. Depending on the flu season, the severity hinges on several factors. Factors include particular characteristics of circulating viruses, timing of the season, how protective the vaccine is and how many people get vaccinated each year. Each year, millions of Americans become ill with the flu, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands die from the infection.

Influenza is a serious viral infection attacking the respiratory system. A common misconception is that it can also attack the gastrointestinal system. Symptoms of the “stomach flu” which include nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, rarely are the main symptoms of influenza since it is primarily a respiratory disease. Stomach flu is caused by viral gastroenteritis. Common symptoms of influenza are fever, chills, headache, extreme fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscles aches.

But what exactly causes death in a person infected with the flu? How can a person become ill with the flu one day and the next could actually die from it? Infectious disease specialists say that the most common complication of the flu leading to death is a bacterial infection of the lungs or bacterial pneumonia.

The cause of a bacterial infection stems from the flu virus injuring the lungs causing inflammation. This allows bacteria an easier access to invade the lungs resulting in a very serious infection. As the bacteria takes over, it makes it harder for a person to breathe as the lungs struggle to get enough oxygen into the body.

Another complication increasing the likelihood of flu mortality is sepsis. Sepsis can develop after any infection anywhere in the body such as influenza. Sepsis is the body’s immune response to a life-threatening infection. In some infections, the response overwhelms the body and without timely treatment, it can rapidly cause tissue damage, organ failure, and death.

More rare complications from the flu proving fatal include an infection of the heart or myocarditis causing sudden death or heart failure. In addition to an infection of the brain or encephalitis which can lead to seizures and dangerous swelling of the brain.

When to seek emergency medical attention

Since influenza symptoms can rapidly change, it is important to know the signs indicating when someone is very sick from the virus and needs medical attention immediately.

According to the CDC, emergency warning signs in children include:

· Fast breathing or trouble breathing

· Bluish skin color

· Not drinking enough fluids

· Not waking up or not interacting

· Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held or comforted

· Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and a worse cough

· Fever with a rash

In adults, warning signs from flu to watch for include:

· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

· Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

· Sudden dizziness