Often we think of frail, elderly people as being vulnerable to the deadly complications of the flu. While that’s true, perfectly healthy children, teens, and young adults can also die from the disease, reports CNN.
Strong Immune System the Problem?
Back in 1918, during the Spanish flu pandemic, young people had a particularly high death rate. Paradoxically, their strong immune systems were to blame.
How this Uncontrolled Immune System Fight Affects?
For example, when pneumonia sets in, the immune system sends white blood cells to the lungs to help. That’s good — but a young, robust immune system will sometimes overdo it, and too many white blood cells can clog up airways.
Of course, the vast majority of young people recover from the flu just fine. It’s not clear why it goes wrong for some of them.
“I wish we understood why this happens so quickly in some teens and young adults,” Creech said.
Schaffner, the CDC advisor and an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt, said one of the things that’s tricky with young people like Kaylee is that unlike adults, they can look quite well and be gravely ill.
“It’s so deceptive. She’s vibrant and young and healthy, and she gives the appearance of being much more well than she actually is,” he said.
Flu Shots the Best Way Out?
The best way to prevent complications of the flu is to get your child a flu shot. They can still get the flu after being vaccinated, but they’re less likely to develop life-threatening complications from the disease. Although we’re deep into flu season, the CDC says it’s still not too late to get a flu shot.
If a child does get the flu, the CDC says emergency signs to look for in children include fast breathing, bluish lips or face and a fever above 104 degrees.
Schaffner added that any illness that gets worse after a few days is a warning sign, too.
“If you’re at day four and you’re clearly worse than day three, you have to worry,” he said.
He added that sometimes everyone can do everything right, and terrible things can still happen.
“In Kaylee’s case, it sounds like from the parental side and the medical care side, everyone was very attentive. But even so, you can still get this sudden crash,” he said.
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: CNN
