Influenza

Abstract

Influenza infections account for significant morbidity and mortality both in the United States and worldwide. Approximately 5-15%of the world's population develops the disease annually. In the United States, 114,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths are thought to occur annually [1], with an estimated annual economic impact of 3-5 billion dollars [2]. Complications of influenza include primary and secondary pneumonias, respiratory failure and rarely myositis and neurologic failures. These complications often lead to ICU admission, especially in the elderly or immunocompromised population. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.