According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of Americans are affected by seasonal flu each year. Most people with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 flu or "swine flu", do not need medical care. However, sometimes flu symptoms can become dangerous. Some symptoms, according to the CDC, signal that it's time to go to the emergency room.
Breathing Problems
The flu is considered a respiratory virus, so it's no surprise that breathing problems top the CDC's list of flu emergency warning signs. Breathing problems in adults and children manifest differently. In children, look for fast breathing or trouble breathing. Skin--especially around the mouth and fingertips--may acquire a bluish color. In adults, problems such as trouble breathing and shortness of breath are often easier to spot, plus the patient will often report them himself.
Dehydration
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the human body depends on water for survival. People who are sick with the flu need more fluid than usual to maintain adequate hydration, advises the CDC. While mild dehydration can be managed at home, those with severe dehydration need to be admitted to the hospital. Children--especially young children--develop dehydration more quickly than adults. In children, not taking enough fluid is an emergency warning sign. In adults, look for severe or persistent vomiting.
Altered Mental Status
The flu is sometimes associated with severe central nervous system diseases, including, according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), inflammation of the spinal cord (transverse myelitis), and Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological syndrome involving progressive muscle weakness and paralysis. Therefore, the CDC warns, children who are not waking up or interacting and adults who demonstrate confusion or dizziness need medical attention.
Symptoms That Recur
Flu symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough are often a sign of pneumonia. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," pneumonia is the most significant complication of flu, both in terms of frequency and severity. Flu-related pneumonia can be caused by the influenza virus itself or, more commonly, according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," by bacteria that take advantage of lungs already weakened by flu.
References
- CDC: What To Do If You Get Sick--2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Hydration: Why It's So Important
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 17th edition"; A.S. Fauci, E. Braunwald, D.L. Kasper, S.L. Hauser, D.L. Longer, J.L. Jameson and J. Loscalzo (Eds.); 2008
