Complications of Flu

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A secondary bacterial chest infection, which develops in addition to the virus infection, is the most common complication. Occasionally, this can become serious and develop into pneumonia. A course of antibiotics will usually cure this, but the infection sometimes becomes life threatening, particularly in the frail and elderly. Other serious complications are uncommon.

Rarely, flu can develop into a high fever, acute bronchitis, encephalitis and pneumonia.

The risks for complications and serious illness are higher among the following groups of people:

Those aged 65 years and older
Babies and infants
People with other medical conditions (e.g. long-term heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes, or those with a weakened immune system due to treatment or disease)
People living in nursing, residential or other long-stay homes where the spread of the virus is more likely