While the flu season this year has been mild, it is still important to recognize which patients are at high risk for flu-related complications:

 

• Children < 5 years old
  • Especially children < 2 years old
• Adults > 65 years old
• Pregnant women
  • Including women up to 2 weeks post-partum
• Residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes
• American Indians and Alaskan Natives
• Patients with certain medical conditions, including:
  • Respiratory diseases, such as asthma and COPD
  • Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions
  • Heart disease, including CHF and CAD
  • Blood disorders (e.g. sickle cell disease)
  • Endocrine and metabolic disorders (e.g. diabetes)
  • Kidney or liver diseases
  • People <19 years old on long-term aspirin therapy
  • Morbid obesity (BMI > 40)
  • Immunocompromised, (e.g. chronic steroids, transplant patients, AIDS patients, chronic steroid use)

 

During the influenza season, when admitting a patient who 1) has respiratory symptoms and 2) is at high risk for influenza complications, consider testing them for influenza.

References

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm