Flu deaths: A record-breaking 105 US children have died from flu so far this season
CNNCNN — So far this season,105 children have died from the flu, according to data released Friday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has been an “unusual” flu season with a higher proportion of children and young adults affected than the older population, according to Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The earlier prevalence of influenza B – a flu strain that tends to be more common in children – could be a reason why more children were affected, Schaffner said. “Some parents don’t recognize these symptoms as part of influenza … which may delay thinking of influenza and delay treatment.” Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting, can also impact one’s ability to take antivirals that can shorten the flu’s duration, he said. “ may not prevent the illness completely,” Schaffner said, “but if you’re vaccinated and you still get the flu, you’re more likely to have a less severe infection … Your risk of dying is less.”