Each year in the United States, flu causes an estimated 54,000 to 430,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 to 49,000 deaths, with infection rates highest among children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Danger of the flu

People don’t realize that the flu can be fatal, especially in children. The flu can progress so quickly, prevention is really the best strategy. About a third of these children die within the first three days of their first reported symptoms. That’s why it is recommend every child 6 months or older get vaccinated every year.

We found these influenza-related deaths can occur in children with and without medical conditions and in children of all ages, and that very few of these children have been vaccinated,” said lead author Dr. Karen Wong, a CDC medical epidemiologist. That’s especially true for kids with high-risk medical conditions and for very young children,” she explained. “These children are at especially high risk for flu complications.”

It’s important to know the difference between cold and flu symptoms. A cold is a milder respiratory illness than the flu. While cold symptoms can make you feel bad for a few days, flu symptoms can make you feel quite ill for a few days to weeks. The flu can also result in serious health problems such as pneumonia and hospitalizations.

Cold

Cold symptoms usually begin with a sore throat, runny nose, congestion follow with a cough by the fourth and fifth days.  The sore throat usually goes away after a day or two.  Fever is uncommon in adults, but a slight fever is possible. Children are more likely to have a fever with a cold.

Cold symptoms usually last for about a week. During the first three days that you have cold symptoms, you are contagious. This means you can pass the cold to others, so stay home and get some much-needed rest. If cold symptoms do not seem to be improving after a week, you may have a bacterial infection, which means you may need antibiotics.

Flu

Flu symptoms are usually a bit more severe than cold symptoms and come on quickly. Symptoms can include sore throat, fever, headache, body aches and soreness, congestion, and cough. Swine flu can also be associated with vomiting and diarrhea.

Most flu symptoms gradually improve between two to five days, but it’s not uncommon to feel run down for a week or more. A common complication of the flu is pneumonia, particularly in the young, elderly, or people with lung or heart problems. If you notice shortness of breath, let your doctor know immediately.