How Does the Flu Affect the Body?

Broken Down

When it comes to the flu, there are a handful of symptoms that are always prevalent: extreme fatigue, chills, a high fever, muscle aches, headaches, a runny nose, sore throats and a dry, heaving cough. All of these symptoms cause a person to be bed ridden for days, ultimately leading to overall weakness.

Spread the Health

Children have an increased risk of getting the flu. In addition to the signature symptoms, they also suffer a high degree of vomiting accompanied with abdominal pain and diarrhea. This can, in turn, lead to dehydration. Because they are so active and always around other kids, they are more likely to spread the flu to others.

Infants who are 6 months or younger often get the flu, but the symptoms resemble that of a bacterial infection so it gets unrecognized. When it does take hold, symptoms can include poor feeding, fatigue and poor circulation.

Age Is More than a Number

People over the age of fifty really have to be cautious of the flu, especially if they have heart problems or diabetes. The health of the immune system also declines with age, making it harder to fight off the virus. One of the main complications older adults can run into is acquiring pneumonia. This is a condition characterized by the lungs filling up with fluid. The National Institute on Aging recommends that people over the age of 50 should get a flu shot every year. The Institute also recommends that anyone taking care of the elderly be vaccinated as well.

Expecting

Women who are pregnant have an increased risk of complications from the flu. The CDC recommends that expecting moms get vaccinated if they are pregnant or plan on being pregnant during the flu season which runs from late November to March. Women who have gotten the flu in their last trimester have had instances of having children with developmental and emotional problems like ADD according to the American Pediatric Association. Pregnant women are not exempt to the affects of the flu either. They have a tendency to develop heart and lung problems that are so severe that they find themselves hospitalized. This especially goes for pregnant women with asthma.

Get Jabbed

The flu vaccine itself has been recognized as safe by the Centers For Disease Control with side effects only being recognized in rare occasions. The only exception to getting the flu shot would be people who are allergic to eggs as this is where the vaccine is derived from.