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In a tragic story making headlines across the country: A fourth-grade girl from Ohio died just one day after being diagnosed with angina and flu.
According to a Facebook post from Mason City Schools, Sable Gibson was diagnosed Tuesday morning, in cardiac arrest Tuesday afternoon and died Wednesday night.
Also this week, reports were reported of a New Jersey child who died of flu at the beginning of the month.
Although this year's influenza season was overall lighter than last year, to date, 41 children have died of influenza-related causes nationwide.
The number of influenza-related deaths varies considerably from one year to the next, but even during a relatively mild influenza season, the disease kills thousands of people. The CDC reports that over a period of three decades beginning in the mid-1970s, the number of deaths from influenza in the United States ranged from 3,000 per year to 49,000 in a bad year.
Influenza season of last year was particularly murderous, claiming the life of more than 80,000 Americans, including a record 185 children.
Although most people recover from flu, complications can occur, some of which can be serious or life-threatening. The disease can be life threatening for everyone, but it is especially dangerous for adults over 65 and children under five.
How can the flu cause death?
The flu virus itself can lead to death if it causes severe breathing problems and severe dehydration. However, the most common scenario is a complication of infection, says Dr. Claire Bocchini, an infectious disease specialist at Texas Children's Hospital.
She says bacterial pneumonia is the most common complication of the flu that causes death.
"This happens because the flu virus hurts the lungs and causes inflammation that then allows the bacteria to enter the lungs more easily and cause a very serious infection," Bocchini told CBS News. "The bacterial infection can make breathing difficult for children and their lungs struggle to get enough oxygen for their body."
Another complication that can lead to death is sepsis. This happens when the body reacts excessively to an infection. Sepsis can affect multiple organ systems, sometimes resulting in organ failure and death.
An infection of the heart (or myocarditis) that can cause sudden death or heart failure and brain infection (or encephalitis) that can lead to dangerous convulsions and swelling of the brain can also be fatal. .
Young children and older adults are the most vulnerable to these complications, as well as pregnant women and people with chronic diseases such as lung disease, heart disease, diabetes and neurological diseases.
When to see an emergency doctor
If the flu becomes severe, it is important to seek immediate medical attention to avoid further complications.
According to the CDC, the warning signs in children include:
- Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
- Bluish skin color
- Do not drink enough liquids
- Do not wake up or interact
- Being so irritable that the child does not want to be restrained
- Flu-like symptoms lessen, but come back with fever and aggravated cough
- Fever with rash
In adolescents and adults, the warning signs may be breathing difficulties or shortness of breath, chest or abdominal pain or pressure, confusion, dizziness, and severe or persistent vomiting.
If you or your child has these symptoms, it is important to take medical treatment immediately.
How to protect your family
The best defense against the flu is to get vaccinated. The CDC recommends that all people 6 months of age and older get a flu shot every year. If you or your child has not received the flu shot this year, experts say it's not too late. The flu season peaks in winter but may persist until spring.
Although the flu vaccine does not guarantee that you will not get sick, doctors say that it reduces the risk, and that if you get sick, it may be less serious.
If you have a young child who exhibits flu-like symptoms, such as fever, body aches and tiredness, it is important to consult your pediatrician to find out if an antiviral drug like Tamiflu (also available as generic oseltamivir) , Relenza or Rapivab is needed.
Other steps recommended by the CDC to prevent influenza include:
- Avoid close contact with others, including hugs, kisses, and handshakes.
- Stay away from people before coughing or sneezing.
- Wash your hands frequently, especially after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
- Cough and sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away, or cough and sneeze into the sleeve of your upper jersey, completely covering your mouth and nose.
- Disinfect commonly touched surfaces and objects, such as toys and doorknobs.
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