How Serious is the Flu?

Know the Risks from the Flu
In some people, the flu can cause serious complications, including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. Children and adults may develop sinus problems and ear infections.

The worse outcome of course is death. Exact numbers of how many people died from flu so far this season cannot be determined because states are not required to report flu cases or deaths to CDC. And, many persons who die of complications from influenza infection are not tested for influenza, or they seek medical care later in their illness when influenza can no longer be detected from respiratory samples. However, one of the ways that CDC tracks pneumonia and flu deaths is through the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System. This system collects information on a weekly basis on the total number of death certificates that are filed in 122 cities and the number with pneumonia or influenza listed as a cause of death. This system helps gauge the severity of the influenza season compared with other years.

Pneumonia and influenza were listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death for 6.9 percent of all deaths reported for the week ending February 17, 2007. This percentage of deaths that include pneumonia and influenza is normal for this time of year.