Does it really matter what virus anyone has? Whether it's the flu, or just some flu-like virus, or H1N1?

Regardless.... if you have a virus, you may feel very ill. Or you may not.

I think "flu" has become a generalized term. From dictionary.com:

1 : INFLUENZA
2 : any of several diseases caused by bacteria or viruses and marked especially by respiratory symptoms —see INTESTINAL FLU

So I do think someone can say, "I have the flu," and not have tested positive for *influenza*.

To state you have the *swine* flu, specifically, though, is probably more specificity than anyone should use unless they have been tested.

FWIW... my oldest son had H1N1. He got a killer headache, then body aches, then was dizzy, then got a fever that would ultimately vacillate from 99 - 102, and began coughing a deep, heavy cough. The next morning I took him to the clinic. He tested positive for it. He was put on Tamiflu.

I *think* my youngest had it, too. About 36 hours after DS1's dx, he started in with the same symptoms. He got on Tamiflu immediately after a phone call to the Dr.. His symptoms then tracked much differently than DS #1. His fever never did get very high, and his first full day he threw up several times. They say the more severe H1N1 patients are apt to have vomiting and/or diarrhea, but his other symptoms (the typical H1N1 ones) never got all that severe. He ran a low grade fever for several days.

Was it just that the Tamiflu kept it at bay? We didn't have him tested, so I guess we may never know. And that leaves me unsure if he should get the vaccine or not. He's our asthmatic, and the one we really don't want to have it... if he hasn't already!