The interesting feature of �swine �flu� is that the only people that have been properly diagnosed with it are the (very) small number of people that have unfortunately died from it.
Various strains of influenza are prevalent all the time. Last year some 3,000 people in the UK died from �flu. Around 30 at most have died from this current outbreak. Unless the patient is particularly vulnerable (very young, very old, or with other underlying health problems) no medical treatment is usually necessary. The symptoms of all of the strains are almost identical: the patient feels absolutely dreadful, is sweating hot and freezing cold at the same time, every bone and joint aches, there is difficulty lifting one�s head off a pillow.
As I understand it �swine �flu� is no different. I have had proper �flu (as opposed to �man �flu� � a heavy cold) three times. On each occasion I thought I was going to die, on each occasion at its height I wish I had died, and on each occasion I made a startling recovery after spending about 72 hours in bed without troubling the medics.
This latest epidemic has come at an unusual time of year, but its effects are much the same and very few people will really need medical assistance. And indeed medical assistance is the last thing they are going to get with the current arrangements. But this is a government that must be seen to be doing something. Hence the adverts in the daily papers, the useless help lines and web sites, and the difficult to obtain, ineffective medication that is prescribed over the phone by medically untrained operatives (some of whom have asked patients questions such as �what county is Essex in?�).
Unlike the advice given by KRUSTY I should say if in doubt go to bed (you'll be there anyway if you really have 'flu), take two aspirins or ibuprofen and only if you see a serious deterioration or no improvement in a couple of days consult your GP.