# The flu symptoms this year are confusing and deadly. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 4, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921 "2015-01-04T02:27:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/61 "2015-01-06T16:16:04Z")
My mother just received Tamiflu and called it “miraculous.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/62 "2015-01-06T17:55:17Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > This has been a very strange ride at our house. I had chills and sweats even though my actual fever never went over 99F. It’s very difficult to get people to take an illness seriously if the fever isn’t super high. Hell, my primary doctor won’t take any illness seriously until one’s temperature hits 100°. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/63 "2015-01-06T20:02:19Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > So viruses can cause sepsis too. It’s sort of a ‘scorched earth’ response to an infection. The body, in its zeal to wipe out the invader, destroys the battlefield in the process. And when that battlefield is your lungs, where ISTR Spanish Flu was prone to settle you vigorously liquefy your only means of breathing. Fuggin brutal. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/64 "2015-01-06T20:13:27Z")
> [@susan](#): > > My mother just received Tamiflu and called it “miraculous.” One hopes you pointed out to her that it was a result of science, not a miracle. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/65 "2015-01-06T21:38:53Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > One hopes you pointed out to her that it was a result of science, not a miracle. Earlier in this thread I made the mistake of taking someone literally when I shouldn’t have. I hope it doesn’t make me seem like a hypocrite when I point out that you’re doing it, too. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/66 "2015-01-06T22:38:57Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Hell, my primary doctor won’t take any illness seriously until one’s temperature hits 100°. My brother’s normal temperature is degrees lower than 98.6 so he has to insist that 99 for him is very high. Or does it not work that way? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/67 "2015-01-07T00:13:40Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > My brother’s normal temperature is degrees lower than 98.6 so he has to insist that 99 for him is very high. Or does it not work that way? It does not work that way for more than 99.9% of those who claim it works that way for them. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/68 "2015-01-07T01:15:29Z")
> [@](#): > > One hopes you pointed out to her that it was a result of science, not a miracle. No need. My mother understands how conversation works. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/69 "2015-01-07T01:24:25Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > It does not work that way for more than 99.9% of those who claim it works that way for them. There was a couple of months, years ago, when I was bored, in good health, and had a digital thermometer. I took my temperature every day at about the same time. At no time did it register above 97.8. Gosh, I’m in very very own 0.1%. Too bad there’s no money in it. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/70 "2015-01-07T01:40:16Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > There was a couple of months, years ago, when I was bored, in good health, and had a digital thermometer. I took my temperature every day at about the same time. At no time did it register above 97.8. > > Gosh, I’m in very very own 0.1%. Too bad there’s no money in it. I’m not entirely sure that’s what **Qadgop** is saying. 98.6, as far as I know, is not really the median body temp for humans. I believe it’s closer to 98.2, with a range of 97-99 being normal. My temp, too, is usually closer to just a hair under 98. I think he’s talking about what constitutes a fever, but I’ll let him explain. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/71 "2015-01-07T01:41:37Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > There was a couple of months, years ago, when I was bored, in good health, and had a digital thermometer. I took my temperature every day at about the same time. At no time did it register above 97.8. > > Gosh, I’m in very very own 0.1%. Too bad there’s no money in it. It’s only a good experiment if you use multiple thermometers and then figure out the average… :D:D ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/72 "2015-01-07T02:08:07Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m not entirely sure that’s what **Qadgop** is saying. 98.6, as far as I know, is not really the median body temp for humans. I believe it’s closer to 98.2, with a range of 97-99 being normal. My temp, too, is usually closer to just a hair under 98. I think he’s talking about what constitutes a fever, but I’ll let him explain. Rereading, I think you are correct. :smack: > [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > It’s only a good experiment if you use multiple thermometers and then figure out the average… > > :D:D You pay for 'em, I’ll do it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/73 "2015-01-07T02:26:20Z")
98.6 F is exactly 37 C. That may be why we consider 98.6 F to be normal: 37 is the closest integer Celsius temperature to normal body temperature, so it’s what’s considered normal in most of the world, and 98.6 F is what you get when you convert. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/74 "2015-01-07T03:53:04Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > To clarify a little further: > > The predominent influenza strain showing up this year is an H3N2 variant. Unlike H1N1 which was responsible for the 1918 pandemic, H3N2 tends to be most lethal in young children and the elderly as well as in those with weakened immune systems. While there was “drift” in this year’s influenza strain, there is some cross-reactivity. The strain in the current North American vaccine is H3N2 Texas, while the majority of the cases of influenza have been H3N2 Switzerland, although there is still a significant proportion of H3N2 Texas causing disease. I worry that the publicity about this year’s flu shot being the wrong strain may discourage people from getting vaccinated. … Preach it!! I was at the optician last week and the lady helping me said one of her co-workers was out with the flu. They had all skipped the shot that year because of of the optometrists had told them it was useless. Well guess what? Now, the strain the colleague had may have been in the shot, or may have been one of the not-included ones that might have been helped a _little_, or it may truly have done nothing at all - but by getting that whole group of people to skip the shot at all it completely ruled out anyone getting any benefit at all (not to mention, loss of workforce). I had the flu at about age 9 (the “Hong Kong” flu pandemic) and vaguely recall feeling wretched for a week - but I was young. I had what sure seemed like flu about 17 years ago, a year where a lot of people got sick anyway even after having the shot - and it wasn’t that bad. I mean, yeah, it sucked - I felt pretty lousy for a few days, and there was one 8-hour stretch where I was doing the full-blown fever / chills / death sounds like a reasonable option thing… but the next day I was ambulatory, sort of (drove myself to the doc to get the secondary infection / asthma flare dealt with). I’m convinced the shot revved things up enough that I fought it off better than I would have otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/75 "2015-01-07T04:34:25Z")
I’m a big fan of the flu shot since I got both regular flu and H1N1 in the same month. January 2010, got regular flu, stayed home a couple days, fever, joint aches, stuffy head, stayed in bed, then was fine and back to work no problem. Two weeks later, the symptoms started up again with the addition of everything on the H1N1 checklist save cyanosis. At first I was like, “damn, how did I get it _again_ - or did I not get rid of it and it’s resurged after 2 weeks?” Then I realized it was not the “regular” flu when I puked up the dinner I had eaten more than 18 hours previously. Oh, no wonder I wasn’t hungry. I didn’t know that was even _possible_, for food to sit in the stomach for so long! So, home for another three days and then a mask for an additional two at work. I had to work, I was doing relief for the spay/neuter clinic manager and if I didn’t go in they would have had to cancel two days worth of appointments. I’ll never forget that January. Have gotten the flu shot every year since and have no plan to stop. It’s covered completely and coincides with my yearly checkup anyway. ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/76 "2015-01-08T20:57:50Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Yes it was. In '95 or '96 when I was volunteering at a hospital I had the vaccine. So almost 20 years ago, anyway. I remember getting flu shots every fall when I was in grade school (late 50s, early 60’s). ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/77 "2015-01-08T22:16:23Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > It takes almost a year to manufacture the vaccine. By the time they found out the strains they picked out weren’t quite the right one it was too late to start manufacturing an updated vaccine in time to get it out the door. It takes [about 6 months](http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/virusqa.htm), but yeah, still too long to change it once you realize you guessed wrong. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/78 "2015-01-09T02:17:59Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > A lot of people say they have “the flu” when it’s really just a bad cold, too. There’s a big difference. So then when they hear that people die from the flu they think, “Wait, people die from THE FLU??? That’s crazy!” > > They don’t realize how bad the flu really is, and think it’s just like a severe cold. They also think other people with colds have the flu too. I got bad chest colds, lasting 2 weeks one time and 3 weeks the other, in December of 2012 and last April and both times I lost track of how many times people thought I had the flu. It \*wasn’t the flu \*either time. The symptoms didn’t match up. And I’ve had the flu before so I know the difference. But people assume any time someone is sick for more than a week it must be the flu, and hey, those people always seem to get better after being miserable a while, so it sucks but isn’t a big deal. **Qadgop** , does anyone actually die from the flu? I mean, is the flu a killer in and of itself, or do they actually die of getting pneumonia from having the flu first? ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/79 "2015-01-09T02:48:39Z")
> [@](#): > > Qadgop, does anyone actually die from the flu? I mean, is the flu a killer in and of itself, or do they actually die of getting pneumonia from having the flu first? While I am not **Qadgop** IAAD so forgive me if I take this one. What you have to clarify is the definition of pneumonia which simply means an infection of the lungs. This can be caused by bacteria, viruses (like influenza) or fungi. Most people think of pneumonia as a bacterial infection but you can get pneumonia from the influenza virus itself without having any bacterial superinfection. When you get pneumonia of any kind your lungs swell and fill with fluid and you can stop breathing. In addition, the body’s response to influenza is to send out an immune response and the cytokines involved in this response were felt to be responsible for the large numbers of deaths from the 1918 pandemic. In short, which many if not most influenza deaths are caused by a superimposed bacterial pneumonia, people can die from influenza pneumonia itself or even presumably from being infected by the influenza virus without clinically developing pneumonia. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921/81 "2015-01-18T19:00:17Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > The 1918 flu was also categorically more severe than other strains. Previous to 1918 people got the flu and survived in predictable numbers. The 1918 flu wiped out a disproportionate number of people, and in particular the youg and strong, rather than the old and weak. The impact of the Spanish flu took a backseat to war news, of course. The town of Teller, Alaska lost 72 of its 80 residents. The larger town of Nome, AK lost upwards of 20 people per day during the epidemic. It’s a historical footnote. A lot of young soldiers died from it on troop transport ships going to Europe and even more were deathly ill. Interestingly, not a single US soldier (on troop transports) was lost to U-boat activity. My wife and I both get the shot every year. I think I got my first one back in 1967 in boot camp. Even though we get the vaccination, we practice good hygiene and limit crowd activities during flu season. We deliver meals on wheels to a senior facility and heavily utilize the antibacterial dispensers near the elevator on all floors, avoid touching our faces, public surfaces, etc. It’s a bit paranoid, but as one gets older these viruses become a bigger problem. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-symptoms-this-year-are-confusing-and-deadly/708921.md?page=5)