Quote Originally Posted by Zen View Post
I suggest reading FLU by Gina Kolata before making any sweeping scientific pronouncements.



You get the flu once a year?
Many people who *think* they have flu just have a 24 hour bug. I've never had real flu. It makes you sick - really, really, really sick. If you get a stomach bug that makes you throw up a few times and you feel better in a day or two you have not had flu.

From what I understand nausea and vomiting are part of swine flu in addition to regular flu symptoms, but season flu is an upper respiratory infection - fever, body aches, cough.

As far as I know I've never had the actual flu. I've never been that sick. I haven't had flu shots in the past, but I get them now. I'm not that concerned about myself, but I work in a children's hospital and I would never want to make a kid sick, especially one who's health is already compromised. I haven't had either yet this year, because the vaccine supplies have been too low and they've really been prioritizing. (I work in outpatient, so far I'm not on the list)