Submitted by Kathleen Sposato, Dec 24, 2007 09:21

Influenza (flu) is a viral respiratory illness; referring to gastrointestinal viral illnesses, such as norovirus, as "flu" is confusing to the public.  but, even worse, it hampers immunization efforts when individuals associate the term flu with gastrointestinal symptoms, upon which the flu shot will have no effect.  I cannot count the number of times a patient or employee has told me that they have chosen not to get the flu shot this year because they got it last year and still had  the flu (i.e., an episode of vomiting and diarrhea). 

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