What is flu?

The NHS says that symptoms can include: 

• a sudden high temperature 
• an aching body 
• feeling tired or exhausted 
• a dry cough 
• a sore throat 
• a headache 
• difficulty sleeping 
• loss of appetite 

They say that children ‘can also get pain in their ear, sore eyes, swollen glands and appear less active’. 

The government says: ‘Children usually begin to feel better within about a week’, and the NHS notes that ‘flu will often get better on its own’. The NHS website offers tips for managing flu. 

US data shows that mortality from influenza is hugely influenced by age, with the majority of deaths occurring in older adults. At the time of writing, the age group 5-17 has the lowest mortality rate of all age groups. 

(Ref: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1127799/influenza-us-mortality-rate-by-age-group/)