Pandemic Flu Symptoms

Throughout the course of history, pandemic flu has spread across large swaths of human populations. During the 20th century, the Spanish flu killed approximately 40 million between 1918 and 1920, the Asian flu killed approximately 1.5 million between 1957 and 1958, and the Hong Kong flu killed 1 million between 1968 and 1969. Each of these pandemics came in waves resulting in dangerous symptoms worse than the regular influenza. Some people are in higher risk categories for complications of a pandemic flu.

Features

• Pandemic flu symptoms can come on suddenly and develop with severity over the course of days. The most notable examples of these include high fever, headache, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, aches and possibly diarrhea and vomiting.

Considerations

• Having symptoms related to these does not necessarily mean that a person has influenza. A number of other conditions, including food poisoning and the common cold, exhibit similar effects.

Time Frame

• Upon development of symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention. Only a doctor can determine if someone has the flu in a period of two to three days upon onset. Individuals are contagious from one day before and up to five days after symptoms develop.

Warning

• Complications with influenza are the most dangerous symptoms of the virus. People over 65 years of age, patients with chronic illness, children under 6 and pregnant women are at risk for further problems associated with the flu and its side effects.

Effects

• Along with these symptoms, even a mild case of pandemic flu can lead to death. The majority of healthy people recover from the virus without major complication, however, high risk factors are associated with the disease. Unlike regular flu viruses, the pandemic strains are usually deadlier.