# Do you know anyone that died due to the flu? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2022, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-anyone-that-died-due-to-the-flu/959347 "2022-02-12T04:11:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-anyone-that-died-due-to-the-flu/959347/61 "2022-02-18T18:29:52Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Sure, but that usage totally muddies and confuses people. Definitely agreed – as I understand it, “stomach flu” is colloquial parlance, and not what medical professionals would use. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-anyone-that-died-due-to-the-flu/959347/62 "2022-02-18T19:10:21Z")
Also, if you look at the advertising for cold/flu medicines, none of them are targeting the gastroenteritis “stomach flu” type symptoms. It’s been drilled into my head that a flu is something like a really bad cold. “Stomach flu” or calling gastroenteritis “flu” is something folks in my parents’ generation might do. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-anyone-that-died-due-to-the-flu/959347/63 "2022-02-18T21:56:31Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > You’re correct, though “the stomach flu” is a common (if inaccurate) term that’s used, at least in the U.S., for the sort of symptoms that are more properly called gastoenteritis. Interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever heard “stomach flu.” “Stomach bug” is what I’ve always heard. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-anyone-that-died-due-to-the-flu/959347/64 "2022-02-18T21:59:43Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever heard “stomach flu.” I’m a Midwesterner, and I hear it frequently (as well as “stomach bug”). If one googles “stomach flu,” a number of health websites list the term (as well as, sometimes, “stomach bug”) as nicknames for gastroenteritis, as well as taking pains to point out that it isn’t actually the flu. > **[Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)-Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) -...](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/viral-gastroenteritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378847)** > > This condition, often called stomach flu, is usually harmless, except for infants and people with immunosuppression. Symptoms can usually be managed. > **[Diarrhea and the Stomach Flu](https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/diarrhea-stomach-flu)** > > The stomach flu brings on some nasty symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea. Learn more from WebMD about avoiding the viruses that cause it and treating symptoms if you or your child already have it. > **[Stomach Flu: All You Need To Know](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12418-stomach-flu)** > > Stomach flu is a viral infection in your digestive system. Learn how to recognize the symptoms of viral gastroenteritis. > **[The Symptoms of Norovirus](https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/symptoms.html)** > > Learn more about norovirus symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-anyone-that-died-due-to-the-flu/959347/65 "2022-02-18T22:20:58Z")
I’m a midwesterner too but I’m not known for my listening skills. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-anyone-that-died-due-to-the-flu/959347/66 "2022-02-18T22:57:12Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > “Stomach flu” or calling gastroenteritis “flu” is something folks in my parents’ generation might do. Ditto on this. My folks definitely brought me up to say “stomach flu.” I probably used the term myself into the 1990’s. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-anyone-that-died-due-to-the-flu/959347/67 "2022-02-22T23:35:27Z")
My daughter was diagnosed with influenza a couple of years ago. She was prescribed Tamiflu and it seemed to help. A couple of days later I came down with it. I went to the doctor right away. It was a different doctor and I was prescribed the new at the time medication Xofluza. I only had the one experience with it but in my opinion it’s a gawdamn miracle drug. If you think you have the flu go to the doctor right away. There are treatments that will at least make it less severe. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2022, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-anyone-that-died-due-to-the-flu/959347/68 "2022-02-26T02:52:07Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > I had a hell of a flu in 2005 or so, and I truly felt like I was going to die. I remember lying in bed feeling like I was slowly passing out, inch by inch, and I wanted to get up and call 911, but I couldn’t move. I got bronchitis in 1996. I stumbled up the steps to my apartment, took off my coat, staggered the literally 10 steps to my bed and collapsed. I remember staring up at the ceiling thinking “any minute now I will get the energy to take off my boots. Any minute now”. For most of the evening. Thank god my cat ate dry food and I’d filled the bowl -as well as his water bowl - before going to work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-anyone-that-died-due-to-the-flu/959347.md?page=3)