Flu and Chronic Medical Conditions

If you have a chronic medical condition such as heart disease, asthma or diabetes, it's important to call your doctor when the first flu symptoms occur.

Each year in the United States, about 36,000 people die from influenza (flu) and over 200,000 are hospitalized due to complications from flu. These complications can include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. When kids with asthma or allergies get flu, they often get complications such as sinus problems and ear infections.

Who's at risk for problems associated with flu?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals who are at high risk for problems associated with flu include:

• adults over age 50
• people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house people with long-term illnesses
• adults and children 6 months and older with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma
• adults and children 6 months and older who needed regular medical care or were in a hospital during the prior year because of a metabolic disease (such as diabetes), have chronic kidney disease, or have a weakened immune system -- including immune system problems caused by medicines or by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS)
• children 6 months to 18 years old who are on long-term aspirin therapy (Children given aspirin while they have influenza are at risk of Reye's syndrome.)
• women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
• all children 6 months to 59 months of age

What chronic medical conditions might increase problems associated with flu?

Some common medical conditions that may increase the risk of problems with the flu include:

• asthma
• diabetes
• emphysema
• heart disease
• HIV/AIDS

Why is flu more serious to those with asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease. It affects more than 22 million Americans. Flu can make asthma symptoms much worse.

According to the American Lung Association, only 40% of adults with asthma and 10% of children with asthma actually get the flu shot, despite longstanding recommendations that they do so. A study by the American Lung Association estimates that if every child with asthma got the flu shot, it would prevent approximately 100,000 hospitalizations each year.

For in-depth information, see WebMD's Asthma and Flu.

What about diabetes and flu?

While getting the flu is dangerous for anyone, it's extra risky for those with diabetes. People with diabetes are three times more likely to die with flu and/or pneumonia. Still, more than 50 percent of those with diabetes do not get an annual flu shot, according to the CDC.

For in-depth information, see WebMD's Diabetes and Flu.

How is COPD -- emphysema and chronic bronchitis -- worsened by flu?

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis, known together as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), affect 10.7 million adults. Both conditions are marked by obstruction to airflow that interferes with breathing. Like asthma or any lung disease, COPD is worsened by the flu. if you have COPD, it's important to learn what you can do to avoid respiratory problems.

For in-depth information, see WebMD's Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis (COPD) and Flu.