The flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children. Each year, millions of children get sick with seasonal influenza; thousands of children are hospitalized and some children die from flu.
Children commonly need medical care because of the flu, especially before are 5 years old. Children with chronic health problems like asthma, diabetes and disorders of the brain and nervous system also are at higher risk.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that influenza has resulted in between 9.2 million and 35.6 million illnesses, between 140,000 and 710,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths annually since 2010.
A total of five influenza-associated pediatric deaths in Michigan have been reported for the 2016-17 season. Nationally, 108 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported for the 2016-17 flu season.
Sources:
CDC – Disease Burden of Influenza
CDC – Children, the Flu and the Flu Vaccine
MDHHS – Michigan Flu Focus Surveillance Reports