The flu is typically a moderately severe illness for healthy children and adults. Most people are back on their feet within a week. For people who are not healthy to begin with, influenza can be very severe and even fatal. In addition, complications can occur. Most of these complications are bacterial infections because the body can be so weakened by influenza that its defenses against bacteria are low.
Bacterial pneumonia is the most common complication of influenza.
But the sinuses and inner ears may also become inflamed and painful. Take Your Best Shot Influenza can best be prevented with the current influenza vaccine. This vaccine is made each year so that the vaccine can contain influenza viruses that are expected to cause illness that year. The viruses in the vaccine are inactivated so that someone vaccinated cannot get influenza from the vaccine. Instead the person vaccinated develops protection in his or her body in the form of antibodies.