# Zomg! Swine flu! Swiiiiine fluuuuuu! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 29, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613 "2009-10-29T15:09:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/1 "2009-10-29T15:09:09Z")
We had to take the Small One to the walk-in clinic last night as she had a urinary tract infection. Unfortunately the wait was longer than normal because the doctors were hopelessly overwhelmed with people who were convinced they had SWINE FLU!!!111! (technically referred to as H1N1!!!111!.) I asked one of the nurses, “All these people here for swine flu?” She said, “Yep.” I said, “Any of them have it so far?” She said “Well, you can’t really tell the difference between H1N1 and other types of flu. But probably not.” Calm down, people. It’s not Black Death. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/2 "2009-10-29T15:19:48Z")
So, you’re pitting people for taking their children to the doctor when the children are sick? Whether it’s H1N1 or not, if the kid is running a high fever and having respiratory issues, it’s probably a good idea to have a doctor take a look (and a listen to the lungs). Just because a parent seeks out medical care for his child does not mean he thinks the kid has the Plague. I mean, really, it was just a simple UTI and you totally panicked and ran to the doctor. Calm down already! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/3 "2009-10-29T15:22:18Z")
> [@C3](#): > > So, you’re pitting people for taking their children to the doctor when the children are sick? Very few of the alleged swine flu victims were children, actually. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/4 "2009-10-29T15:23:23Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Very few of the alleged swine flu victims were children, actually. Okay, so you’re pitting people for going to the doctor when they’re sick. ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/5 "2009-10-29T15:29:44Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > We had to take the Small One to the walk-in clinic last night as she had a urinary tract infection. > > Unfortunately the wait was longer than normal because the doctors were hopelessly overwhelmed with people who were convinced they had SWINE FLU!!!111! (technically referred to as H1N1!!!111!.) > > I asked one of the nurses, “All these people here for swine flu?” She said, “Yep.” I said, “Any of them have it so far?” She said “Well, you can’t really tell the difference between H1N1 and other types of flu. But probably not.” > > Calm down, people. It’s not Black Death. Dude, WTF? Don’t blame the sick people. Blame the media for positioning H1N1 as they possible next coming of the Spanish Flu pandemic. People get sick, they get worried, so they want to get checked out. Nothing wrong with that. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/6 "2009-10-29T15:31:31Z")
If any or all of the kids sitting there were entirely healthy and symptom-free, your thread has validity. If they were sick, the parents were perfectly justified in bringing them in. I’m assuming you didn’t have time to closely examine each child in the waiting room to see which category they fell into, so unless the parents were in the process of forming an unruly pitchfork-waving mob, I think this qualifies as dubious at best. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/7 "2009-10-29T15:35:42Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Calm down, people. It’s not Black Death. [Are you sure?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu) > [@](#): > > It was caused by an unusually virulent and deadly influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. While acknowledging that it is not exactly the same type that caused the “Spanish flu”, it is also a variant of the H1N1 virus, and like any virus subject to mutation. > [@](#): > > The pandemic lasted from March 1918 to June 1920,[3] spreading even to the Arctic and remote Pacific islands. It is estimated that anywhere from 50 to 100 million people were killed worldwide which is from three to seven times the casualties of the First World War (15 million). I don’t know that I’d want to roll the dice on that possibly happening again. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/8 "2009-10-29T15:50:14Z")
I hope the Small One is feeling better. But yes, we are all going to DIE HORRIBLY from the swine flu. Rather a pity if you think about it, which I try to avoid doing. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/9 "2009-10-29T15:55:35Z")
> [@C3](#): > > Okay, so you’re pitting people for going to the doctor when they’re sick. No he’s pitting them for being in line in front of him. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/10 "2009-10-29T16:09:09Z")
I agree with **tacoloco**. Although H1N1 can be serious, particularly for people with underlying conditions, the media has (as usual) blown it out of proportion, thus leading to people being frightened. (coming up on news at 10: Certain death awaits you!) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/11 "2009-10-29T16:11:27Z")
> [@C3](#): > > Okay, so you’re pitting people for going to the doctor when they’re sick. With the flu, what can a doctor do? ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/12 "2009-10-29T16:13:31Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I agree with **tacoloco**. Although H1N1 can be serious, particularly for people with underlying conditions, the media has (as usual) blown it out of proportion, thus leading to people being frightened. > > (coming up on news at 10: Certain death awaits you!) This is compounded by a shortage of vaccines. Nothing helps to start a panic like scarcity. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/13 "2009-10-29T16:20:28Z")
Hospitalization rates are way up with confirmed H1N1. Death rate is higher than normal with H1n1. [We are only at the beginning of the flu season and it already looks like the normal peak of the season.](http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm) Dunno what going to the doctor is gonna do for you once you have the flu, though. Stay home. Keep your kid home. CDC says: > [@](#): > > When should I go to the doctor? > Call a health care provider if you cannot take care for yourself or a loved one at home, or if you or a family member has a high fever with shaking chills, coughing that produces thick mucous, shortness of breath or trouble breathing or a worsening of an existing medical condition. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/14 "2009-10-29T16:27:32Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > With the flu, what can a doctor do? In some cases, this strain has progressed quite quickly in otherwise healthy people, necessitating respirator/ventilator supported breathing within the first 24 hours. Scary. We got our H1N1 shots Tuesday (in Compton- no line, too scary 😉 ), and our kids are getting them this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/15 "2009-10-29T16:34:35Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > No he’s pitting them for being in line in front of him. And they were disgustingly fat, all of them, so it took longer for the exam and diagnosis. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/16 "2009-10-29T16:40:03Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > In some cases, this strain has progressed quite quickly in otherwise healthy people, necessitating respirator/ventilator supported breathing within the first 24 hours. Scary. > > We got our H1N1 shots Tuesday (in Compton- no line, too scary 😉 ), and our kids are getting them this weekend. I had an opportunity to take the live virus inhalant but I didn’t want to because I was afraid of getting sick and being unable to work this weekend, and then I was laid out with the nastiest cold I’ve had in years. I guess it’s probably good I didn’t take the vaccine on top of that. I need to get the vaccine soon. My daughter’s pediatrician is waiting to get the dead injectable kind but he doesn’t have any yet. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/17 "2009-10-29T16:40:53Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > With the flu, what can a doctor do? Make sure they don’t have pneumonia, for one. Give Tamiflu if they have it and it’s indicated. Recommend a trip to the hospital, if it’s progressed to that point. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/18 "2009-10-29T16:48:49Z")
Of course it’s not the Black Death; nowadays we have medicines that treat that just fine. 🙂 First off, for most just waiting it out with TLC is fine. But some really do need to be seen early because this time they really should get on Tamiflu or Relenza early if they do seem like they have H1N1 - asthmatics, diabetics, people with epilepsy or other seizure disorders, those with neuromuscular or neurocogntive disorders, people with renal problems, people on immunosuppressants, people with chronic heart and cardiovascular conditions, kids under 2 years old, etc. That’s a lot of people who really should get seen who would look just fine to you in line. Second, of course there is some hysteria made worse by contradictory messaging by not only media sources but by experts themselves. Three, if someone has the fever longer than it should run with influenza (usually 3-4 days), or it goes away for a day or more and comes back, or they act out of it or have chest pain, or difficullty breathing, etc … they need to be seen. Most will do fine but a few will have pneumonias. Some of those will need to go in the hospital and some of those into an ICU. The death rate for H1N1 for those under 50 is such that one cannot really say “Oh it’s just the flu” in good faith. What can a doctor do? Identify who needs the Tamiflu or Relenza and get it to them. (No not you, not you not you nor you, yes you for you it is worth it.) And find the person with the complication that needs intervention and treat it earlier rather than later. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/19 "2009-10-29T16:57:04Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > I had an opportunity to take the live virus inhalant but I didn’t want to because I was afraid of getting sick and being unable to work this weekend, and then I was laid out with the nastiest cold I’ve had in years. I guess it’s probably good I didn’t take the vaccine on top of that. I need to get the vaccine soon. My daughter’s pediatrician is waiting to get the dead injectable kind but he doesn’t have any yet. It seems that there is NO effort at distributing this vaccine in any sort of a rational way to get it to the people who should be at the front of the line first. Are you a household contact of someone under 6 months? A healthcare worker? Between 2-5 years old? They should go first for the nasal vaccine. THEN wait for the healthy 5 to 18 year olds, then those up to to age 24. Then a healthy adult over 24 should get it. Not before. And part of the reason your daughter (if she is under 5) has not gotten the vaccine, even though she is in one of the highest risk groups for developing disease that ends her up in the hospital, is that some idiot handed out all the vaccine to a Board of Health elsewhere that is run by some schmuck who is giving it out to anyone, and certainly to people at lower risk than your daughter. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613/20 "2009-10-29T17:01:34Z")
I am a Father of a toddler with a pregnant wife. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zomg-swine-flu-swiiiiine-fluuuuuu/515613.md?page=2)