Most of the people who have died from the new pandemic H1N1 flu had underlying conditions such as asthma, but 45 percent seemed healthy, said U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
American researchers collected detailed data on 1,400 adults and 500 children hospitalised with swine flu in 10 U.S. states. The findings confirm that most serious cases and deaths have been in people under the age of 65 years.
Almost 55 percent of the adults had a condition known to worsen flu of all kinds like asthma and chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease and immunosuppression. Six percent of those who died were pregnant. Pregnant women have suppressed immune systems so that their bodies do not reject the baby, and they may also have pressure on the lungs from the fetus.
In children, the most common underlying conditions were asthma and chronic lung disease, neurological or neuromuscular diseases, and sickle cell or other blood disorders. Around 6 percent of hospitalised children had a blood disease related to red blood cells, such as sickle cell disease.
The CDC had not mentioned sickle cell disease before as a special risk, but such children had been highlighted in influenza guidelines as being at special risk and needing to be vaccinated every year.
American researchers collected detailed data on 1,400 adults and 500 children hospitalised with swine flu in 10 U.S. states. The findings confirm that most serious cases and deaths have been in people under the age of 65 years.
Almost 55 percent of the adults had a condition known to worsen flu of all kinds like asthma and chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease and immunosuppression. Six percent of those who died were pregnant. Pregnant women have suppressed immune systems so that their bodies do not reject the baby, and they may also have pressure on the lungs from the fetus.
In children, the most common underlying conditions were asthma and chronic lung disease, neurological or neuromuscular diseases, and sickle cell or other blood disorders. Around 6 percent of hospitalised children had a blood disease related to red blood cells, such as sickle cell disease.
The CDC had not mentioned sickle cell disease before as a special risk, but such children had been highlighted in influenza guidelines as being at special risk and needing to be vaccinated every year.