3 out of 4 in my household are ill with the flu, hope we all get better before Christmas.

You're a spamming idiot! GTFOH and STFU, loser.

Is nbcnews that poor or that money hungry that it has to cover up part of the story with stupid advertisements that prevent viewers from reading the news story?

So what? That's less than 2%.

@Luther,

The NVIC (National Vaccine Information Center) is a long-discredited anti-vaccine organization that claims that herd immunity is a "myth" and that all vaccines are harmful and violations of individual rights. They are your typical right-wing money-collection organization that peddles hogwash to the poorly-informed and ill-educated in the hopes of creating revenue. Their "star" was Andrew Wakefield (who has since been banned from both medicine and science) and their primary source of income currently are anti-vaccine lawyers who practice outside of the Office of Special Masters of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, which administers a no-fault system for litigating vaccine injury claims.

And you probably meant 80% which is, in fact, a false number. The CDCP numbers (on which the article was based) are here: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/ and they bear no resemblence to your poorly-informed "facts." In fact, around a consistent 72% of all reported "flu-like" illnesses (ILIs) turn out to be other than influenza or pneumonia --- mostly the common cold. But that is the nature of screening. You always get lots of false positives with screens so that you can be assured that you throw a broad enough net.

While influenze is PRIMARILY a respiratory illness, "The most common symptoms are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, headache (often severe), coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort. Although it is often confused with other influenza-like illnesses, especially the common cold, influenza is a more severe disease caused by a different type of virus. Influenza may produce nausea and vomiting, particularly in children."

Incorrect. NVIC is not anti-vaccine. Big pharma thrusts anyone into that category who gets in their way of producing a never ending number of new vaccines. We are screwing up our immune systems with so many vaccines. Even my pro-vaccine family doctor sees that it is getting ridiculous.

Yea right. That's what you say until it happens to you-" not gastrointestinal". They dont know everything. If I am sick with the flu for 3 weeks it will affect me gastrointestinally also. Everything is connected.

Rapidrush:

Oh, I hear you! But if both ends are spewing you most likely have either a norovirus or have a septic infection (with a high fever-get thee to an Urgent Care) Flu is indeed respiratory.

Luther's right--if it's gastrointestinal, probably it's not flu. The only member of our family who did NOT get a flu shot just came down with flu two days before Christmas. Starts with a racking COUGH, breathing issues, high fever (around104), and terrible aches and pains throughout the body.

If a loved one starts coughing--big, explosive coughs that toss the body around! with fever--immediately start them on Tamiflu (useless if not initiated within 48 hours) and Respa, which is 600 mgs. of guafenisin, a 12-hour expectorant.

Both are prescription medications. Also give 1 capsule of 200 mgs. ibuprofen every 4-6 hours for aches and pains. With Tamiflu, the fever will break within 24 hours and the patient will feel much better within 48 hours. (The course of Tamiflu is one capsule in the morning, one at night--for five days.)

The patient should remain at home with limited activity, normal food intake, drinking lotsa fluids--for the entire five days.

My patient wanted to go out for dinner on Christmas! But just the increased activity of feeling good at home brought back a mild fever. So, keep 'em home 'til the Tamiflu's done.

Just because your patient will feel greatly improved quickly does NOT mean they're better!

I am NOT A DOCTOR. If you or yours gets that cough or a high fever that doesn't start with a sore throat the way a cold does, get to a doctor right away and ask about Tamiflu and Respa--these are brand names.

Didn't get your shots, I presume?

The shots are not always the answer, and I get sick of people saying that. You do realize that when they make those shots, they take a GUESS at which strains will be prevalent and then put three of those strains in the vaccine. IF you get the strain that's in the vaccine, you MIGHT avoid getting it or have a lesser case of it, but honestly, the small chance that it will help you is not really worth the risk considering what's actually in those shots. Keep letting big pharma tell you otherwise while they cash in on all the money.

and you got your flu vaccine when?

Diarrhea is not a flu symptom. The flu is respiratory, which is one symptom you do not list. Could you possibly have norovirus? (against which the flu vaccine does not help!) Hope you feel better, but don't diss the flu vaccine for not protecting you against something else!

Spencer K: The symptoms you describe are NOT flu.

Calico Whispers: Great moniker, btw--that dangly thing at the back of your throat is your musculus uvulae--in English, the uvula.

Do you think that maybe it's because only about one-third of the population between the ages of 13 and 64 actually get a flu shot in a typical year?

But the percentage of young children and the elderly who are vaccinated are much higher- and correspondingly the number of them who get the flu each year are MUCH lower than in the rest of the population.

Too True, I can't believe you had to have that explained to you...LOL

Every person I know who has had the flu (out for a week) did NOT get a flu shot. You reap what you sow...

I've been reading a lot of the descriptions of illnesses here. Not all are the flu. We call it the flu as an all-encompassing ailment, but it's not.

My advice: Get the flu shot, it's not too late, even if you think you've already had it. If you haven't, you have next to nothing to lose. The vaccine is very mild, and if you are "allergic" to needles, there's a nasal spray.

I got pneumonia last year, and I almost died--really. (I was hospitalized for almost a week, and had more IV lines than you can count.) I was told earlier in the season that I was too young for the vaccine, (late 50s). I've found out if you actually demand it, you can get it. So I did (after my pneumonia bout). I'll need a booster in five years, but I don't care. I have taken the flu shot for the past 20-some years, and I have not had the flu for 20-some years. I've also had very few colds. This pneumonia was a fluke.

After I recovered, I checked to see what other vaccinations I needed and/or boosters. I'm up-to-date on everything. I even got the vaccine against shingles (CDC lowered the age recommendation to 50.) I never want to be as sick as I was last year, again. It's too easy to stay relatively well.

Unless one has some real health or allergy issue, let me try to persuade all to get their vaccines. You will know you've done your best, and you will more than likely benefit. Nothing is perfect, but I'd rather take my chances by staying immunized than risking it all for some half-baked fears. Don't be foolish with a maybe-I-will or maybe-I-won't attitude because so-and-so says whatever. No one can promise you perfection, but I'd rather take my chances on the survival side.

Good for you, Zapper! Sorry about your pneumonia, but you're doing all you can to stay healthy and it's been working well.

Just a thought here: the vaccine shot cannot give you the flu, as many people believe. The vaccine shot is inactive.

The nasal spray, however, is active and CAN give you the flu, albeit a much milder version than you'd otherwise get.

The safer version, for those who are greatly concerned, is the needle vaccine.

My hubby mistakenly thinks the vaccine will make him sick, so he refuses. Everybody else gets the flu shot every year. And just about every year, he gets sick. (he's the one who got it two days before Christmas.)

The rest of us never get it!

For those who think the flu shot has made them sick, likely they were exposed to the flu before they received the vaccine, or were exposed during the two weeks immediately after getting the shot--the flu vaccine shot takes about two weeks to be effective.

I have gotten the flu shot every year for over 20 years and I am so happy that I have. I already have asthma and other sinus problems and the flu would only make matters worse if I got it. I have had the flu ocassionally over the last 20 years but not very often and not nearly as servere. I remember once I got the flu (before the flu shots) and I felt like I was going to die, I was so sick. I know what it feels like to have a bad case of the flu so I would not even think about not getting the flu shot. This year I got the pneumonia shot as well. Better to be safe than sorry. I can understand the fear and apprehension when the flu shot first became popular, but, come on, the shot is well over 20 years available to the public, for crying out loud, get one!

Tamiflu has been considered for OTC status once before by the FDA, it's possible they may do so again. It's unlikely they would consider the orally-inhaled Relenza for OTC status because of occasionally severe complications for people with COPD or asthma.

While there's some question as to just how effective Tamiflu is there is little doubt that the earlier you start treatment the better chance of have of seeing results. I think your idea of pharmacist prescribing in this case is a good one.

John, most anti-virals aren't that effective anyway. The best defense is a healthy diet and regular exercise. A strong body can fight it off easier. Getting a yearly flu shot is your best bet of all.

Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!! Tamiflu is the only "good" antiviral for flu, and even it is terrible because a single mutation in the virus (histidine to tyrosine at amino acid position 275 of the neuraminidase protein) is enough for the virus to become resistant. Giving Tamiflu like tylenol would do WAY more harm than good.

Source: Influenza researcher studying the transmission of Tamiflu resistant viruses in Australia.

That doesn't impress the anti-vaccine crazies in the least. They'll just say it was "God's will". Idiots.

I wouldn't call them idiots, maybe uninformed is a more fitting term. So it is all of our responsibility to inform ourselves about the vaccine. These antii-vaccine people should look at the stats and do a comparative analysis, go to the CDC and do some extensive research, then they will realize how important the flu shot really is.

That doesn't impress the anti-vaccine crazies in the least. They'll just say it was "God's will". Idiots.

Wow, I see a lot of the big pharm folks on here trying to endorse, endorse, endorse to bring more money in, lol.

Uninformed? I think it's the other way around for those that buy in to everything the big pharm money machine tells them. Flu shots are only guesses. Some people sit in a room and guess as to which three flu viruses they think will be prevalent. Then they create a shot, filled with all kinds of other crap like formaldehyde, that may or may not prevent ONLY these three viruses. If a different strain comes out, well you're out of luck. Plus, and I don't give a crap what anyone says, they make many people sick. I used to get the shots every year as a requirement for my job, and EVERY year I got sick shortly after I got the shot. I also usually caught the flu more than once a year. Haven't had a shot in several years, and guess what? I haven't been sick either, lol. Call me an idiot all you want, I have all the information I need. I personally think you're more of an idiot buying into their crap, but hey, to each their own.

LOL. What, no rain dance too?

not funny these remedies really work ..grape seed extract is great stuff to have around the house

Yes, Timmy. Do exactly what the nice pill pushers on big pharma's payroll tells you to do.

Yes, Santashoe. Do exactly what the nice paranoids at the vaccines-cause-autism whine groups tell you to do.

Santy likes to cling to his bizarre beliefs, because he is at heart, a contrarian, so if you tell him the sun rises in the east, he will dispute it vehemently and at length. It's a complete waste of time to try and discuss anything even remotely controversial with these types of mental cases.

Stay scared, stupid and sickly. Lots of oats for all the good sheep, courtesy of Merck. That is, when they are in between lawsuits.

Mymomraisedadolt. Shoot off your mouth somewhere else. You don't have a clue.

Mark lotsanumbers: HUH? Did you wander into the wrong thread, or what? Fluoride is used to prevent tooth decay.

I understand and even agree with your comments about the NRA and gun owners, but this thread is about the flu.

I drink high-quality single malt Scotch whiskey. It beats your ridiculous formulations all to hell and back.

Explains so much, momrasiedadolt. Pickled brain cells. Must be one of those 32oz steak lovers we all pay through the nose in medical insurance for. Too much of a know it all to take care of themselves and then our rates go up when they get clogged arteries.

Anthony 42etc.: The flu shot CANNOT make you sick! Please don't spread dangerous misinformation that may cost lives.

Dee, I am so sick of hearing this. It is complete BS. I used to get the flu shot every year for my job, and it would make me sick EVERY year. My mom had the same experience. Neither of us have gotten the shots in several years now, and haven't gotten sick either. The flu shot CAN make you sick...I know from personal experience. You can't tell me it was coincidence that I got sick following every shot for more than five years by chance. There is no chance, and I will just laugh my butt off while you try to convince me otherwise. It was the shot that made me sick, and I know many who have had the same experience.

No, it's just that god hates you.

The shot works for other people, so if it doesn't work for you, then you must be "special". 

Or maybe it means that you're right... it's worthless. If it doesn't work for you it can't work for anyone else, either.

Tara, that's because you're supposed to get one every week. You now need more shots to make sure you don't get the flu again.

Tara: Did a doctor say you have the flu? Many folks think they have the flu when they don't.

Flu is just one of a huge number of viruses out there we humans can contract.

Marklotsanumbers: No, your info is totally incorrect! One flu shot in October to December, once per year, is all it takes. Where on earth do you get this poor information??

Tara, you could have anything! You got sick, not necessarily with the flu. Whatever it is that you have, it most likely is not the influenza A, H3N2. That is the immunization for this year. Whatever it was that made you sick, it was not the flu shot.

David-109etc.: If you only missed three hours of work and you work every day--what you had was NOT FLU.

ok everyone listen and listen carefully. I got the freakin flu shot and 2 months later I got the flu! yeah I was being proactive and I did ask what strains were being vaccinated against and type A was included..well guess what. I got type A. my son and I both got the shot at the same time and two months later, we both got the flu...this is likely not typical but just so you know.

just copy and paste in your browser ; you be amazed of how the whole story had unfoled where hospital would not give him megadoses of vitamin C when it was clear that it started working " /www.dailymotion.com/video/xh70sx_60-minutes-scoop-on-new-zealand-farmer-vit-c-miracle_tech#.UNjIkHfWbIQ "