Do you have asthma, diabetes or chronic heart disease? -- Why am I at greater risk of serious flu complications? -- Can the flu be treated? -- What should I do if I think I have the flu? -- Should I still get a flu vaccine? -- What are the benefits of antiviral drugs? -- What are the possible side effects of antiviral drugs? -- When should antiviral drugs be taken for treatment? -- What antiviral drugs are recommended? -- How long should antiviral drugs be taken? -- Can children and pregnant women take antiviral drugs? -- Who should take antiviral drugs? -- Following is a list of all the health and age factors that are known to increase a person's risk of getting serious complications from the flu.

Do you have asthma, diabetes or chronic heart disease? If so, you are at high risk of serious illness if you get the flu. In past flu seasons, as many as 80 percent of adults hospitalized from flu complications had a long-term health condition; as did about 50 percent of hospitalized children. Asthma, diabetes and chronic heart disease were the most common of these. This fact sheet provides information about treating influenza in high risk people with prescription influenza antiviral drugs. Treatment with an antiviral drug can mean the difference between having a milder illness versus a very serious illness that could result in a hospital stay.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection