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Article Medically Reviewed By:

Michael Kaliner, MD

Professor George Washington School of Medicine Wheaton, MD

Overview

What Is It?
The flu, or influenza, is a viral disease of the respiratory tract—the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs—and is highly contagious. A cold is a less severe viral infection, and often includes a runny nose, sneezing and coughing. Unlike flu, colds typically don't cause fever.

The flu, or influenza, is a viral disease of the respiratory tract—the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs—and is highly contagious. It is spread though airborne droplets of moisture produced by coughs or sneezes. When you breathe these germs in through your nose or mouth, you may come down with the flu, generally within one to three days of exposure.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) every year about five to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu, although rates vary among age groups and from season to season. Outbreaks frequently start in school-age children, who carry the virus home and spread it to other groups.

And for the 2009-2010 flu season, there is a new flu to contend with—novel H1N1 flu ("swine flu"), which has been spreading from person to person in the United States since April 2009. So far, most people who have become ill with novel H1N1 flu have recovered without needing medical treatment, but severe illness and deaths have occurred as a result of the virus. Experts predict illnesses from H1N1 flu will continue for some time, so it's important for people to be informed about the virus so they know what to do in the event of infection.

Influenza is a serious illness. On average, approximately 36,000 Americans die from the flu and related complications each year and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized with flu-related complications, according to the CDC. Older people are more susceptible to flu complications, as are children, people with compromised immune systems and those with chronic illnesses such as heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.

The most serious, often life-threatening complication of the flu is pneumonia. Other complications include ear infection, bronchitis, dehydration and worsening of chronic conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. Croup and a lung disease called bronchiolitis can also arise as complications in infants and young children.

In addition, the severity of illness is increased by exposure to cigarette smoke, which can injure airways and damage the cilia, the tiny hair-like structures that help keep airways clear. Toxic fumes, industrial smoke and other air pollutants are also risk factors.

There is also evidence that influenza can be more dangerous for women in their second or third trimester of pregnancy. The strain and stress of pregnancy on a woman's lungs, combined with the type of influenza, can lead to pulmonary problems, although there doesn't appear to be any danger to the f...

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