The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified the following groups of people as needing special attention.
The following groups have been identified as needing special attention.
Children under 5 years of age, especially those under 2 years of age. More than 20,000 children under the age of five are hospitalized each year across the United States due to influenza; 146 children died from influenza-associated illnesses in 2014-2015 alone.
▪ Older individuals over the age of sixty-five. 50-70% of hospitalizations for seasonal influenza in recent years have been among people over the age of sixty-five, and deaths in this age group account for 80-90% of influenza-associated deaths.
▪ Women who are pregnant and within two weeks of giving birth. Changes in the immune system and cardiopulmonary function during pregnancy make influenza more likely to cause illness and to lead to miscarriage or premature birth.
▪ People under long-term medical care
Indians and Alaska Natives
People with the following chronic diseases, so regular monitoring of diet and blood sugar and taking regular medication or carrying a spray can help reduce the risk of influenza.
● Asthma
● Neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders
● Chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis
● Heart disease, such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease. half of all flu-induced hospitalizations in the United States in 2014-2015 had heart disease.
● Hematologic disorders, such as sickle cell anemia
● Endocrine disorders, such as diabetes
● Kidney disease
● Liver diseases
● Metabolic disorders, such as genetic metabolic disorders, mitochondrial abnormalities
● Immune deficiency due to disease or treatment, such as AIDS or cancer
● Under 19 years of age and receiving aspirin therapy
● Body mass index (BMI) of more than 40
In addition to improving lifestyle habits, there are two other ways to reduce the risk or symptoms of influenza, which the CDC refers to as the first and second lines of defense against influenza.
▪ Get a flu shot. The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months get the flu vaccine. Although there is no outbreak of influenza yet, it takes 2 weeks for the body to develop antibodies after the vaccine is administered, so getting the vaccine now is a proactive measure.
Antiviral medication. Studies have shown that antiviral treatment is most effective within 2 days of the onset of influenza, and after 2 days it is less effective but still helpful, especially for those at high risk as mentioned above.