Influenza is one of the URT (upper respiratory tract) infections which results due to a viral attack on the human immune system. The viral infection of influenza combats the respiratory system, specifically affecting the patient’s throat, lungs, and nose. One of the commonly occurring misconceptions about influenza is that it is just like a common flu or cold, but it is different from all the viruses and can be serious and life threatening. The typical flu sometimes referring to influenza is not stomach flu. Although, for most people, the symptoms of influenza resolve on their own, but sometimes they do not. In some influenza cases, the symptoms turn into complications that can be fatal for the suffering patient. Pregnant women, the residents of nursing homes or hospitals, and people having higher body mass index (BMI) are more likely to develop an influenza infection.
As the virus attacks the immune system; thus, the children of growing age are more likely to suffer from influenza infection. Young children, especially under the age of 5 years, are at higher risk of developing influenza. Moreover, infants below the age of 6 months are also more likely to suffer from this viral infection as their immune system is still developing. People with the weaker immune system and Native Americans are also at higher risk of developing influenza infection. Older adults, especially older than 65, have chronic illnesses such as diabetes, kidney diseases, liver diseases, asthma, and heart disease, are also more prone to attain the symptoms of influenza. Although the vaccine which the patients receive annually is not 100% effective, it is one’s best defense against the influenza flu.