Even for the healthiest of people, the flu can knock them off their feet for several days to weeks. For most people, flu symptoms are mild to moderate. However, for others, there is the risk that the virus can cause other, more serious health conditions, or “complications.” These complications, if not treated quickly and effectively, can become fatal. For this reason, it is imperative that you are familiar with the complications of influenza, recognize the signs of developing complications and know when to seek emergency medical care.
The symptoms of the standard flu — meaning, the flu without complications — typically come on suddenly and in full force. For most people, symptoms appear in the following order:
Some people may experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, though this is more common in children than adults. Others may develop shortness of breath, which is a warning sign of developing complications.
For some people, the flu can quickly develop complications. Some common complications of influenza are:
In some people, the flu can trigger the development of lifelong complications, such as asthma, diabetes and congestive heart failure. It is also not uncommon for certain individuals to develop myositis, or muscle inflammation; to experience issues with the central nervous system; or develop heart problems, such as heart attack, inflammation of the sac around the heart (pericarditis) or inflammation of the heart itself (myocarditis).
Though the conditions listed in the section above are commonly associated with the flu, the most common flu complication is pneumonia. Pneumonia occurs when one of two things happens:
In addition to being highly uncomfortable or downright painful, pneumonia is a serious medical condition that often sends people to the hospital. In the early stages, pneumonia can cause fever, chills, sweating and chest pains. You may also notice that you cough up green or bloody mucus.
As the condition progresses, it can lead to a faster pulse, which you may notice either via shortness of breath or the development of a bluish tint on or around your lips or fingernails. Eventually, you may experience sharp pains in your chest when you try to breathe normally.
Older people who develop pneumonia may only experience pain in the belly.
Though treatable for most people, pneumonia can be fatal if not caught early enough and/or if the infected person fails to seek treatment. One of the first signs that you have pneumonia is if your flu symptoms appear to improve at first, but then suddenly become worse. For instance, you may experience a spike in fever after having been fever free for a few hours or days. You may also develop a persistent cough, one that causes you to cough up a greenish-tinged mucus.
Pneumonia can last for quite a long time, with the average duration of illness around two weeks. People with compromised immune systems, elderly individuals and young children may experience symptoms for longer. Once symptoms resolve, most people — even healthy ones — tend to experience fatigue and weakness for a month or more after the lungs completely clear up.
Whether you become sick with the flu virus or a loved one does, it helps to familiarize yourself with the signs of flu complications. By knowing the signs, you can seek help for yourself or a loved one before your condition grows progressively worse.
Some groups of people are more prone to flu complications than others. Those groups are as follows:
Most health organizations recommend that people within these groups get the flu vaccine and take other measures to prevent contracting the virus.
Getting the flu vaccine is the number one way to avoid getting the flu and, therefore, to prevent flu complications. Even if the vaccine does not prevent the spread of the virus entirely, it does help to minimize the severity of symptoms in persons who do contract it.
That said, if you do contract the flu, the best way you can avoid developing complications is by knowing what warning signs to look out for and when to seek medical attention. If your doctor does suspect pneumonia, he or she can run appropriate tests, diagnose you and implement appropriate treatment measures.
The flu itself may not be cause for concern, but its complications should be. If you are at risk for flu complications, you can protect yourself against pneumonia by getting the pneumonia vaccine. There are currently two types available: the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) for children and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) for adults.
Parents who decide to vaccinate their children at a young age (meaning younger than two) should ensure their little ones receive four doses of the PCV13 vaccine. Children who get vaccinated between the ages of two and four need only a single vaccine. Children between six and 18 and who live with chronic health conditions should get a single dose of the PCV13 again, regardless of whether they had shots before or not.
The adult vaccine — the PPSV23 — protects against 23 types of bacteria that are known to cause pneumonia. Doctors recommend that persons over the age of 65 get both the flu shot and the pneumonia vaccine to safeguard their health. They also suggest that adults over 55 do the same to boost their immune systems.
The pneumonia vaccine can also protect individuals with compromised immune systems, such as individuals who live with the following conditions:
Persons who smoke should also consider getting the pneumonia vaccine.
Though the flu in and of itself is not a life-threatening condition, it can trigger life-threatening complications in a matter of hours. For this reason, doctors urge affected individuals to be on the lookout for symptoms of complications, and to call their providers as soon they notice a symptom that is out of the ordinary. Symptoms that warrant an immediate call to a doctor include the following:
You should also call your doctor if you develop a cough that will not stop or if your conditions persist for longer than is normal.