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Pediatrics Blog

By Vincent Iannelli, M.D., About.com Guide to Pediatrics since 2001

Swine Flu

Friday April 24, 2009

Even as flu season winds down across the United States, reports of several cases of swine influenza or swine flu have some people concerned.

Swine flu is a type of flu that normally only affects pigs. Recently, human swine flu cases have been reported in California and Texas and may be linked to an outbreak in Mexico.

Comments

April 28, 2009 at 12:58 pm
(1) D says:

Im scared

April 28, 2009 at 1:11 pm
(2) Ash says:

Okay I have just went to Mexico like 3 days ago and I HAVE A HEADACHE a soar throght but I really don’t know what I should do because I no those are the simple signs of a normal flu! What should I do? My mom really is scared!

April 28, 2009 at 1:46 pm
(3) jose says:

ash u dum as hell go to da doctor

April 28, 2009 at 1:50 pm
(4) Jessica says:

yo dumbass needa listen to homeboy and go to da doctor cause you dont needa be tryin to die!

April 28, 2009 at 2:42 pm
(5) Joslyn says:

Why are you guys talking all gangster? Geeze. And don’t call her Dumb. She’s just scared and doesn’t know what to do!

April 28, 2009 at 2:49 pm
(6) Briana says:

ok you guys need to stop callin her a dumba** b/c she is just scared! ok!! and quit talkin all gangster b/c you are just a wanna be!!!

April 28, 2009 at 2:52 pm
(7) berger says:

yo i am gangsta i straight mess u up g im a goon mutha cracka and ya hit up dat doc

April 28, 2009 at 2:52 pm
(8) Tabetha says:

If you have swine flu just say out loud
now Jesus I believe and I receive you in my
heart please heal me. Remember God
loves you for more help please go to
leroyjenkins..com

April 28, 2009 at 2:53 pm
(9) berger says:

haha jokes i dont talk like that at all

April 28, 2009 at 3:02 pm
(10) Jesus says:

hey ash… go to a doctor and get healed… all you gangsters need to mind your own buissness and be nice… HHEEEEEEYYY!!!!

April 28, 2009 at 3:10 pm
(11) karina says:

im scurd 2

April 28, 2009 at 3:21 pm
(12) Styalz says:

Ok, what the guy said is right though, GO SEE A DOCTOR. Yea you’re scared, so what? Should you worry about what your health at the moment or consult people when you know yourself you’re not feeling well? I think the safest thing to do would be to not ask if you should go but just go to make sure you don’t have anything instead of wait and find out its something serious. If its not, then all the better for you isn’t it?

April 28, 2009 at 3:37 pm
(13) words of wisdom says:

yo be:):):):):)::):)):):):):):):):):):):):):)

April 28, 2009 at 3:39 pm
(14) words of wisdom says:

dont wory be Gay
:) :):)::):):)::):):):):):):):):):)

April 28, 2009 at 3:39 pm
(15) chris says:

HaHaHa lmao u guys are funny stop this is a serious matter

April 28, 2009 at 3:53 pm
(16) Eloy says:

We are living the final days.

April 28, 2009 at 3:55 pm
(17) Eloy says:

Girls say all guys are pigs so that means weve had this kind of flu in the past so that means we can survive this.

April 28, 2009 at 4:40 pm
(18) Arlene says:

I am scared what if we all die

April 28, 2009 at 5:03 pm
(19) Wes says:

If we all die, then the pandemic is over and the problem is solved…

April 28, 2009 at 5:30 pm
(20) Nina says:

ok im only 14 years old and i have anough common sence that if i go to mexico that i need to go to the doctor and get checked out and if your mom was really worried she would had already taken u to the doctor by now anyways write and tell us what happens to u and good luck!

April 28, 2009 at 10:37 pm
(21) megan says:

All I have to say is I hope none of ya’ll infected people live near me!! I’ll pray for ya, but dont come around here… And I dont know why they dont just put the U.S in a big dome, cause I know im tired of these other countries spreadin stuff to us…putting our lives in danger over a damn pig in Mexico?!?!? wtf…

April 29, 2009 at 12:28 am
(22) wow says:

haha dome yeah you do that. over 30,000 americans die of the common flu every year. perhaps free helth care like say France, Canada, and even Cuba would help with that. hmmm dome I wonder how fast it would implode from polution.

April 29, 2009 at 10:12 am
(23) JENNAFUR says:

You will only die when pigs fly.

April 29, 2009 at 11:19 am
(24) frank says:

man alot of poeple at my school are sick! chicago il

April 29, 2009 at 11:22 am
(25) man wdf is diz ? says:

man man oh man and to think im still a virgin

April 29, 2009 at 11:23 am
(26) frank says:

its only a matter of time befor poeple start walking around and eating each other.z day!

April 29, 2009 at 1:19 pm
(27) Frank says:

so if u do get this swine flu how long dose it take for it to really mess u up

April 29, 2009 at 1:35 pm
(28) bob joe says:

wow

April 29, 2009 at 1:49 pm
(29) obamas fualt says:

its not the us, its Mexico’s dirty ass.. but who cares what happens happens lol but if it did turn into something huge i think we would be screwed. people would panic and it would be kinda like dawn of the dead. without the zombies of course

April 29, 2009 at 1:51 pm
(30) ha says:

oh yeah and wow … free health care does not work at all

April 29, 2009 at 2:55 pm
(31) Diamond says:

i am really scared too because of the fact i have been sick for 3 days straight and i have had the symptoms of it and i dont know what else is going to happen. my brother even told me to go get checked, im in FL right now but came from SC which is kinda scary since newberry county actually got it too…ouuu….

April 29, 2009 at 4:25 pm
(32) Amelia says:

I live in PA.
Omg im scared.

April 29, 2009 at 4:27 pm
(33) Gregg says:

this isent a joke a 22 month old baby died is that funny to you? there is 51 cases in new york city 16 in texas and thats where the 22 month old died. stop leaveing comments that dont need to be left peopple r realy scared. 4 all of you who r realy scared stay com and get checked. stay away from anyone who has the symptoms. cough,soar throut,vomiting,and whos to say it came from mexico thats what they think.

April 29, 2009 at 4:27 pm
(34) Gregg says:

this isent a joke a 22 month old baby died is that funny to you? there is 51 cases in new york city 16 in texas and thats where the 22 month old died. stop leaveing comments that dont need to be left peopple r realy scared. 4 all of you who r realy scared stay com and get checked. stay away from anyone who has the symptoms. cough,soar throut,vomiting,and whos to say it came from mexico thats what they think.

April 29, 2009 at 6:36 pm
(35) cool says:

Well, swine flu sounds really scary, there is stuff we can do about it, wash your hands and stay away from people that have swine flu, next year we will have the cure FORSURE! :)

April 29, 2009 at 6:42 pm
(36) Voic e of Reason says:

First off, this is serious, but making jokes that aren’t meant to be mean are alright. Some people need a laugh to calm themselves. Showing the most serious part and making people terrified amplifies the problem in different ways. Second, if you have been to Mexico at all I would suggest you get checked because this may become serious in the future, but so far, it’s mild in the US.
God bless and pray for the world
Richardson~~~~~~~~~

April 29, 2009 at 6:45 pm
(37) Dr.Doctor says:

All of you chill! It doesnt always kill! not everyone dies.. jeez.. its like the regular flu! If you have the symptoms, and beleive you have the swine flu, just stay home, and self-medicate yourself with tradional medicines. As mentioned above, 30,000+ people die each year from the regular human influenza. So just relax and dont flood the hospitals just because you have a cough, or sneeze a little… ever heard of allergies? stay home!

April 29, 2009 at 6:45 pm
(38) Jason says:

No need to be fearful of this man made disease. Try MMS (miracle mineral).

It kills bacteria, parasites and viruses.

Please don’t take my word, research it in Google

April 29, 2009 at 7:19 pm
(39) shaunie says:

my best friend has it and he just found out he got it earlyer today and i hang out with him alot i hope i dont have it. its really scarry its probly going around my school.

April 29, 2009 at 7:21 pm
(40) greg says:

hey lm an sick and wat are the firstsighs off the swine flu need to no

April 29, 2009 at 9:54 pm
(41) na-na na-na says:

dudes and chicks look donna worrie ok i mean like iz like a regalur flu ok iz comes and gos okso like donna worrie ok. if u really feel sick stay home and like if ur no were nere mexico then donna worrie ok.like some have died in texas and mexico ok and like my best friend in texas and i have no clue if he ok or not dam he mite even be dead ok buz just jill out okz.

April 29, 2009 at 9:58 pm
(42) na-na na-na says:

ok no1 goin to die the world isnt goin to come to a end okz. just jill out lol :P . i donna think any1 of us r goin to die if we just kindof stay to rself for rite now ok. just donna go nere people ok

April 29, 2009 at 10:05 pm
(43) e122352 says:

dude my ex just moved to texas the other day!

April 29, 2009 at 10:09 pm
(44) Gregg says:

there hopeing there will be a cure 4 it in a few months. but there is a treatment 4 if u get. it will be ok. keep your young ones away from anyone who may be carrying this viris and the same goes 4 the older ones i hope you stay clean of this. and the world will not come 2 an end. this is comeing from.
Gregg c. jr who wrote #33 and #34

April 29, 2009 at 11:01 pm
(45) rox says:

if your scared and than go to the hospital dont be stupid. ecspecially if you were in mexico.use your brain.

April 29, 2009 at 11:35 pm
(46) rachel says:

i’m very scared!!! i have 2 kidz,1 of em’too little for any medication like tamiflu…would antibiotic do the job? thank God they’re fine!!!and i know the doc.would know what to do,but i’m freaking out!!!if someone is sick go to the doc.please…let’s stop this monster nowwww!!!!

April 30, 2009 at 3:40 am
(47) nurse in alabama says:

THANKS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT….IT IS FUNNY!

April 30, 2009 at 5:07 am
(48) 67456784 says:

be afraid be very afraid we will all die soon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the end is nie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

April 30, 2009 at 7:09 am
(49) Kirsty says:

I’m Very Scared Now :S

April 30, 2009 at 7:40 am
(50) na-na na-na says:

dudes and dudets like just jill out ok the world ant comin to a end. if u r sick just go to the docters ok. just like idk ima just stayin to myself so like mabe u guys should just try stayin to urself mabe.

April 30, 2009 at 8:54 am
(51) nameless says:

im in canada..i feel semi safe xD

April 30, 2009 at 10:38 am
(52) na-na na-na says:

lol ok nameless

April 30, 2009 at 10:42 am
(53) na-na na-na says:

every1 just stay to urself for rite now ok. thaz waz ima doin.

April 30, 2009 at 11:26 am
(54) Brando says:

My eyes are dissolving

April 30, 2009 at 11:28 am
(55) hommer says:

when you have this do you get a pink sock?!?! cuz i have that

April 30, 2009 at 11:30 am
(56) JesusFreak! says:

There are 2 kids already in lowell massachussets who have the swine flu and now a guy in my school might have it. The only cure for this disease for now is praying and asking GOD to heal You
God Bless Everyone

April 30, 2009 at 11:33 am
(57) brett vancuren says:

I have swine flu i am going to the hospital to cough in peoples faces and jizz in there faces and i will have a period on somebodies leg

April 30, 2009 at 11:36 am
(58) jesus girl says:

I will prey with u jesus freak bow chicka bow bow

April 30, 2009 at 12:52 pm
(59) JesusFreak says:

Thank You and God Bless You Sister

April 30, 2009 at 2:37 pm
(60) jose says:

i am scared as crap so stop making fun of people they could die and u where laughing omg u crackheads

April 30, 2009 at 2:40 pm
(61) jose says:

wats up niggas

April 30, 2009 at 6:53 pm
(62) na-na na-na says:

dudes and dudets stop laughin bout this iz for real. and i hope all the ppl thaz r makin fun of swine flu gets swine flu

May 1, 2009 at 4:50 am
(63) megan&&Danni ral says:

your goin to die.. FACT

May 1, 2009 at 4:51 am
(64) megan && danni says:

your goin to die.. FACT

May 1, 2009 at 10:09 am
(65) na-na na-na says:

ima nota goin to die

May 1, 2009 at 12:01 pm
(66) Karen says:

Do your research, kidlettes.

The Swine Flu has been around since around the 1700s. There is approximately one case of swine flu every single year. Furthermore, in around 1918 there was a pandemic flu that people are scared will occur. Just google “Swine flu” and look at the majority of the articles. Calm down, research it and breath.

Even more, in dec. 2008 south dakota had it’s first case of swine flu. And, by the way, the person didn’t die. Also, the toddler that died was 1. from mexico and 2. already had underlying health problems.

You should be most concerned about the swine flu if: you live in a larger area like New York and are already unhealthy. If you already have underlying health problems, then you can freak out. If you are elderly or very young (and thusly have a weaker immune system) you can be worried.

Otherwise, calm down. Swine flu was also present around the 1960/1970 period. They decided to inoculate people (which was a push from government) and the vaccinations caused people to die. The swine flu never became a true pandemic, even though it had spread and there were cases, there weren’t serious deaths from the flu — but instead from the vaccines.

Food for thought, friends.

May 1, 2009 at 12:18 pm
(67) BooYYYaaa says:

Dont Worry Everything will be Okay!!!
Soon they will get a cure…

May 1, 2009 at 2:33 pm
(68) mamaz says:

000000mg

May 1, 2009 at 2:44 pm
(69) anymomus says:

Yall need to stop. Yall aint gangstas. yall jus stupid wanna be

May 2, 2009 at 12:52 am
(70) na-na na-na says:

iv heard thaz nobody diein from the swine flu anymore every1 thaz got it isnt diein because they got like a medican to make u get better from it

May 2, 2009 at 12:53 am
(71) na-na na-na says:

iz was on the news

May 2, 2009 at 3:55 pm
(72) na-na na-na says:

iz every1 ok? like nobody talkin

May 2, 2009 at 4:29 pm
(73) Lisa says:

u guys r freaks!

Go 2 the doc.

May 2, 2009 at 4:32 pm
(74) Lisa says:

poop!

May 2, 2009 at 4:49 pm
(75) Lisa says:

ass

May 2, 2009 at 8:35 pm
(76) Jensen says:

Will it spread to AUZ?

May 2, 2009 at 8:36 pm
(77) Jensen says:

Will it spread to AUZ???????

May 4, 2009 at 9:34 pm
(78) mexico's fault says:

why is it called the “pork” flu?

May 5, 2009 at 10:20 am
(79) na-na na-na says:

idk

May 5, 2009 at 10:20 pm
(80) LaLaLa says:

OK LOL GO TO DA DAM DOCTOR AND NO ONE REALLY CARES IF U GOT DA SWINE FLU ILL TELL U HOW U CHECK IF U GOT IT DUMAZZ OK CHECK FOR FEVER,RETHARGY WHAT EVE THAT IS ,ACK OF APPETITE AND CHOGHING,RUNNY NOSE,SORE THROAT,NASEA,VOMATING,DIARREA like it i helped u :)

May 6, 2009 at 5:07 pm
(81) assylicious says:

lol..im well scared,so scared dat i carry a anti-bacterial gel wid me..lmao..xxx

May 15, 2009 at 10:49 am
(82) na-na na-na says:

lol

May 20, 2009 at 7:42 am
(83) na-na na-na says:

ok now no 1 iz talkin ?
y isnt any1 talkin?

May 21, 2009 at 11:15 am
(84) phu says:

nowonder why islam people hate pork!!

May 24, 2009 at 4:35 pm
(85) ellie-lou says:

Have any of you noticed that far more people die from normal flu in the few months of winter than have actually died from this so far? There are about 36,000 deaths from flu in the US every year, as far as I can see this is no different whatsoever. What they are really worried about is it spreading not it killing everyone. It actually says on this website it’s not about the deaths but the fact we have no immunity to it so it could spread easily. so seriously just calm down you’re just making it worse!

May 27, 2009 at 11:00 am
(86) Trunks911 says:

Swine flu is in my country………….we’re screwed………..jus jokin…….scaredom isnt gonna help us……we gotta be strong……. “reinvent the exit”

May 28, 2009 at 5:24 am
(87) sammy says:

Swine flu is seriously creeping me out!!!!!

June 5, 2009 at 11:45 pm
(88) Tristan Gisclair says:

today i went to blue grass park and when we got back to school i wasn’t feeling to good then when i got home it got worse and now I’m on the couch with a stuffy nose, sore throat, and a head ache. What should i do!!!!!!! ={ =(

June 9, 2009 at 1:46 pm
(89) person in California says:

this is mostly a media hype. Many more people die from the regular flu every year. The only peopole that have died are people who already had health problems.

I don’t know why some people are scared of making fun of this. Is it like some kind of deity that’ll curse you if you make fun of it?

In my opinion, we should be trying to help countries that don’t have the resources we have to combat swine flu like we in America and Canada do.

I’ve done two school reports on this and now I’ve got a cold! lol

June 15, 2009 at 7:32 am
(90) na-na na-na says:

hey person in california
if ur tryin to help us and them then y u makin fun of swin flu
like my best friend died because of swine flu

July 1, 2009 at 3:27 pm
(91) MUTETHIA says:

It was SARS,bird flu and now the swine thing.
The devil knows what next.

July 3, 2009 at 2:06 am
(92) na-na na-na says:

well it could also be because of whats comein up lol

July 10, 2009 at 4:49 pm
(93) beckayyy & Laurennn says:

How can we stop from catching it and how do you die of it cause i dotn want to me and lauren are so scared m what do we do ? it everywher now and we could eslly get it do you allway get all the sytoms or sometime next to nothing >?? wb pleaseE?xxxx

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