When To Call A Professional

If you have a chronic disease and suddenly get flu symptoms, you should call your doctor's office, because they might benefit from starting an antiviral medication within 48 hours. You also should notify your doctor if you have flu-like symptoms along with chest pain, ear pain, shortness of breath, fever that is not going away or a cough that produces blood or thick, foul-smelling mucus.

Prognosis

Although most people recover fully from the flu, some develop serious complications, including life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia. About 20,000 people in the United States die of flu complications each year, and thousands more need to be hospitalized prior to recovery.

Additional Info

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1600 Clifton Rd., NE Atlanta, GA 30333 Phone: (404) 639-3534 Toll-Free: (800) 311-3435 http://www.cdc.gov/