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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