Are some children at higher risk of flu complications?

Children at greatest risk of serious flu-related complications include the following:

Children younger than 6 months old: These children are too young to be vaccinated. The best way to protect them is to make sure people around them are vaccinated.

Children ages 6 months up to their 5th birthday: It is estimated that each year in the United States, there are more than 20,000 children younger than 5 years old who are hospitalized due to flu. Even children in this age group who are otherwise healthy are at risk simply because of their age. In addition, children 2 years of age up to their 5th birthday are more likely than healthy older children to be taken to a doctor, an urgent care center, or the emergency room because of flu. To protect their health, all children 6 months and older should be vaccinated against the flu each year. Vaccinating young children, their families, and other caregivers can also help protect them from getting sick.

Children ages 6 months through 18 years with chronic health problems, including:

• Asthma
• Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury.
• Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- COPD -- and cystic fibrosis)
• Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease)
• Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
• Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
• Kidney disorders
• Liver disorders
• Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
• Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
• Children who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy

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While every child is at risk for complications if they get the flu, some are more at risk than others. Children with chronic disease, especially affecting their lungs or immune system are at high risk, as are very young children. 

Unfortunately, the children who are most at risk are babies less than six months old. Since these babies are too young to get the flu vaccine, make sure to keep anyone who is sick or has a fever away from them. If you are breastfeeding and sick, make sure to wash your hands prior to breastfeeding and wear a mask so you do not cough on your baby.