| Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is an | | | | Statistics indicate that around 30-50 million Americans |
| infectious disease generally caused by viruses. The | | | | are confronted with influenza during winter outbreaks. |
| viruses responsible for causing the flu during viral | | | | While most of these people have no difficulties in |
| outbreaks are very contagious and they can easily | | | | coping with the illness, the elderly and people with |
| be contracted by entering in contact with infected | | | | special conditions (weak immune system, |
| people. Flu viruses are airborne and they can be | | | | already-existent respiratory affections) often develop |
| transmitted through coughing, sneezing or simply by | | | | serious complications, requiring hospitalization. Recent |
| breathing the same air with contaminated individuals. | | | | studies indicate that influenza accounts for more than |
| You can also acquire flu indirectly, by entering in | | | | 115.000 hospitalizations in the United States each year. |
| contact with contaminated objects. Thus, impeccable | | | | Viral pneumonia and other serious diseases associated |
| hygiene during flu seasons is recommended as an | | | | with complicated flu are responsible for causing |
| effective means of preventing infection with flu | | | | 20.000 annual deaths. |
| viruses. | | | | It is important to note that common medications and |
| Although most people experience no problems in | | | | remedies used in the treatment of flu can't prevent |
| overcoming seasonal maladies such as influenza, the | | | | or overcome viral pneumonia. Pneumonia is a serious |
| elderly are very susceptible to developing serious | | | | infectious disease that requires rigorous treatment |
| complications such as bronchitis, otitis, heart disease | | | | with specific medications. If you experience possible |
| and pneumonia. In the case of people with already | | | | symptoms of pneumonia, it is very important to |
| existent conditions (asthma, chronic bronchitis) and | | | | quickly contact your doctor in order to receive the |
| people with weak immune system, flu can | | | | correct medical treatment. |
| degenerate into serious pulmonary diseases such as | | | | Considering the fact that flu and other seasonal |
| viral pneumonia. Considering the fact that flu viruses | | | | contagious diseases can trigger exacerbated |
| primarily affect the respiratory system, people with | | | | symptoms and lead to serious complications in certain |
| respiratory sensibilities are exposed to a high risk of | | | | categories of people, it is best to take measures in |
| developing pneumonia during the flu seasons. | | | | preventing the occurrence of such maladies in the |
| Pneumonia involves inflammation and infection of the | | | | first place. Doctors strongly recommend people with |
| lungs that triggers an overproduction of mucus at the | | | | pronounced susceptibility to infections to get the |
| level of the respiratory tract. Common symptoms of | | | | influenza vaccine every year, before flu outbreaks. |
| pneumonia are: difficult, shallow breathing, chest pain | | | | Flu vaccines can also prevent against certain forms of |
| and discomfort that intensify with deep breaths, | | | | viral pneumonia that are caused by common flu |
| wheezing, exacerbated productive cough and | | | | viruses. However, flu shots can't prevent the |
| moderate to high fever. Doctors sustain that the | | | | occurrence of bacterial or atypical pneumonia, which |
| occurrence of pneumonia is strongly related to | | | | require a different type of vaccine. In addition to the |
| previously acquired infectious diseases such as the | | | | influenza vaccine, the categories of persons exposed |
| flu, which can degenerate into a wide range of | | | | to a high risk of developing pneumonia should receive |
| complications. There are many forms of pneumonia, | | | | a pneumococcal vaccine as well. A single dose of |
| most of them triggered by viral infectious agents. | | | | pneumococcal vaccine offers lifetime protection |
| Some types of pneumonia are caused by the same | | | | against various forms of pneumonia and the vaccine |
| viruses responsible for causing influenza or other | | | | can be administered at any time of year. |
| common seasonal maladies. | | | | |