Three-quarters of people with flu have no symptoms

ConclusionThis large, community-based study found that most people with influenza in England don’t have symptoms, and even if they do, only a small proportion go to a doctor.Approximately 20% of people had an increase in antibodies against influenza in their blood after an influenza “season”. However, about three-quarters of infections were symptom-free, or so mild they weren't identified through weekly questioning about whether participants had a cough, cold, sore throat, or a “flu-like illness”.People who reported being ill were asked to take a nasal swab to test for the influenza virus. Among those with illnesses and with confirmed influenza, only 17% went to see their doctor; among those that did, influenza or influenza-like illnesses were rarely recorded in medical notes. This information is important, as it indicates that current surveillance systems that rely on people visiting their doctor underestimate the extent of infection and illness in the community. This, somewhat counterintuitively, can lead to overestimates of the severity of the disease (only people with the most severe symptoms are identified as being infected).There is also the worry that people unaware they are infected may pass it on to people more vulnerable to infection, such as those with weakened immune systems. Find out if you are in a "vulnerable group". If you are, get the annual flu jab.Analysis by Bazian. Edited by NHS Choices.  Follow Behind the Headlines on Twitter.  Joi...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Swine flu Medical practice Source Type: news