The big sneeze: All about Influenza

Most of us have woken up on with a familiar sneeze and a cough. “Ugh, I got the flu,” you might find yourself thinking as you decide whether to call in sick.

Flu, also known as influenza, is one of the most widespread diseases in Singapore. Cases typically tick up when the weather is wetter and colder¹, but the viruses have a way of sticking around all year long.

For many people, flu is no worse than a common cold and easy to dismiss as a minor inconvenience. Yet there are times when this viral respiratory disease snowballs into serious and life-threatening complications².

Here’s how you can lower your chances of catching the virus and developing severe complications.

When flu turns deadly

Complications can turn a normal flu into a life-threatening emergency. Severe complications connected to influenza include³:

• Pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs)
• Bronchitis (inflammation in the lining of bronchial tubes in the lungs)
• Myocarditis (inflammation of the cardiac muscles)
• Meningitis (inflammation of the lining that covers the brain)
• Sepsis (a severe response to infection that leads to organ failures)
• Reye syndrome (swelling in the liver and brain that affects children and teenagers after a viral infection)

Read here for a more detailed understanding of pneumonia.

Who are likely to experience these complications?

• The elderly (aged 65 years and older)
• Children (6 months to under 5 years old)
• Children and teenagers receiving long-term aspirin therapy (they are at risk of Reye syndrome)
• Patients with chronic disorders of the lungs or heart
• Patients who suffer from chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes) or kidney malfunction
• Immunocompromised individuals
• Mothers in the second or third trimester of pregnancy

How to keep the sneeze away

Boost your immunity and minimise your exposure to flu viruses with these tips.

The threat of flu is nothing to sneeze at. In severe cases, this respiratory viral infection may lead to complications that require prolonged hospitalisation orspecialist care.

Maintaining personal hygiene and a healthy lifestyle is a great way to fend off influenza, but there is more you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones. Ensure your financial readiness in the case of medical emergencies with a comprehensive hospitalisation plan. For a comprehensive Medisave-approved coverage that covers up to 95% of your total hospitalisation bill, consider GREAT SupremeHealth, complemented with GREAT TotalCare.

Speak to a Great Eastern Financial Representative to learn more about this plan and other ways to protect your health and finances from unexpected hospitalisation expenses!

Source:

1. https://mothership.sg/2025/01/more-people-singapore-colds-flu-rain/
2. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/taiwan-actress-barbie-hsus-shocking-death-what-is-influenza-and-how-can-it-turn-deadly
3. https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/topics_influenza
4. https://www.nuhs.edu.sg/patient-care/find-a-condition/influenza-a-h1n1-children
5. https://www.moh.gov.sg/seeking-healthcare/overview-of-diseases/communicable-diseases/influenza
6. https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-cold-symptoms