Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hello! This is titled "The flu: what does 'High risk' mean?"
Whaat do the words "High risk" mean?
Some people, if they have the flu, will have more serious health problems.
They can become very sick and even die.
This happens because people in high risk groups often have other complications or health problems when they have the flu.
For example, people with chronic lung problems, such as asthma, are in a high risk group.
If somebody with asthma gets the flu, their asthma often gets worse.
They have trouble breathing and start wheezing.
This is called an asthma attack.
At the same time, they may get bronchitis or pneumonia.
This is because their body is already weak from fighting off the flu and their asthma.
These three health problems can make them very sick: the asthma attack, the flu, and pneumonia.
Often they need to be in the hospital.
Again, high risk groups are people who often have serious health problems if they become sick with the flu.
What about the new Influenza Type A H1N1 virus, 2009?
We don't have enough information to know which high risk group will have more problems.
Each flu season, some groups have more problems than others.
Some will have only a mild illness while others will be more severe.
Sometimes over 65 years are worse and sometimes younger than 2.
This year, so far, it seems more teens and children less than two years of age have been hospitalized from the flu and complications from the flu.
This does not mean other high risk groups are safe from the flu.
For a list of different high risk groups, watch our video called "The flu: high risk groups."
Thank you!