Swine don't you just call it what it is....

The current swine flu pandemic has caused some common things that annoy me to resurface. Well, actually just one main thing. Throwing up and other stomach related symptoms are not symptoms of the flu. I realize we call it the "stomach flu," but that is just a euphemism for diarrhea and throwing up; it has nothing to do with the influenza virus. I'd like to say that I'm just privy to this information because I come from a family of doctors and so I'm in on some sort of secret that the rest of the population just doesn't know. That's not the case though. I honestly don't think this piece of knowledge has anything to do with my family's background in the medical field. My knowledge about Hepatitis C, acid reflux and colonoscopies can all be attributed to the family business, influenza cannot be. Rather, I am simply just an average laymen who reads the newspaper. Without fail, every single year before flu season gets underway there is an article in every single news source about the symptoms of the flu. The symptoms are much like those of the common cold, accompanied by a high fever and body aches. You'll also learn that antibiotics will prove useless against the flu virus because, well, antibiotics only help against bacterial infections not viral ones.

So folks, pick up a newspaper, turn on CNN, go to wikipedia, read WebMD like the hypochondriac you are...I don't care how you do it, but once and for all learn the facts about what the symptoms of the flu are. Oh, and be sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water...we don't need to be catching swine flu.