SC 13-year-old dies in Shelby hospital from flu complications

SHELBY, N.C. — While coronavirus is getting much of the nation’s attention, doctors in the United States say the country should be much more concerned about the flu.

Channel 9 learned that a teenager recently died from the flu at a Shelby hospital.

Arden Bradley was a middle-school student in Gaffney, South Carolina. She died last Friday from natural complications from the flu, Cherokee County coroner Dennis Fowler confirmed.

____________________

Symptoms of the flu:

Fever, which may be as high as 103°F to 105°F
Body aches, which may be severe
Headache
Sore throat
Cough that gets worse
Tiredness
Runny or stuffy nose

____________________

The 13-year-old girl is the only teen from South Carolina to die from the flu so far this year.

ALSO READ: North Carolina reports first child flu death of season

In total, the flu has killed 51 people in South Carolina and 54 in North Carolina.

The Wall Street Journal reports more than half of the positive flu tests have been in children and adults under the age of 25, which is a higher proportion than the past few years.

Doctors said it is because influenza "b" -- the prominent strain this year -- is much harder on children than adults.

FLU COVERAGE:

[ NC, SC hit hard by flu season on track to be more severe than last year ]

[ Several regional hospitals restrict access in response to growing number of flu cases ]

[ Be prepared: CDC doctors urging everyone to get flu shot ]

[ What is the flu? 17 things to know about flu symptoms, flu shot side effects and more ]