According to a study published in the journal, Clinical Infectious Diseases, pregnant women are at a greater risk of complications from flu. Apart from this, the findings also stated that extremely obese people are at high risk of the complications.
Newer and highly accurate molecular tests that deliver results in 15-60 minutes are recommended by the guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.Previously, rapid-influenza diagnostics tests (RIDTs), were used widely, which produced quick results but could often be a false negative, in at least 30% of outpatients with influenza.
Along with extremely obese people, who have a body mass index of 40 or, young children (especially those younger than 2 years old, those with a weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, cancer, who have had an organ transplant or who are on chronic steroids), women who have recently given birth, younger than 19 years old who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, those with chronic medical conditions including asthma, neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders, fall in the high-risk category.
“Annual influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza, but it is not 100% effective. Those at high risk need to be encouraged to seek medical care right away if they develop influenza symptoms during influenza season,” said Timothy M. Uyeki, co-chair of the guidelines committee and chief medical officer of the Influenza Division of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Typical flu signs and symptoms include fever, cough, muscle aches, chills, runny nose, and sore throat. Other symptoms can include headache and chest pain.
The guidelines also recommend antiviral treatments within two days after the start of flu symptoms, in people who are not at high risk for complications, and to those who are at high-risk, treatment should be started immediately, and be admitted to the hospital with suspected influenza, without waiting for the results of molecular influenza testing.
If the condition for the high risk patients continue to become worse, health care providers should turn to infectious diseases (ID) doctors to provide expertise, the guidelines note.
