Cold and Flu

Since the daily and weekly counts of cases and deaths from the swine flu, which were initially required by the CDC, WHO, and national health departments of most nations have stopped since the pandemic was declared over, there is no way to know how many now. One reason is there are still ongoing cases scattered around the world even as of fall 2012. Another reason is that it was a burden on the reporting entities to try to track and report the numbers. And a large portion of people who had swine flu had mild forms and did not go to the doctor. Their cases could not be counted. And, if no lab test were done to confirm the specific type of flu, there is no way to know for sure if each case should be included in the count or if it is another type of flu.

The treatment is the same as for other types of flu, so there is no real medical need for testing to determine what form of flu someone has in most cases. For this reason, there is no definite count possible on cases of this type of flu any more.

As of 12 June 2009, there has been one Virginia death from the Novel H1N1 flu virus according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been a total of 90 confirmed and probable cases reported in the state.

(See the related questions below for links to more statistical information)

On 1/6/10, the following countries rank as the top three countries with the most cases of the pandemic flu:

1. Germany with 209,885 cases
2. Portugal with 166,922 cases
3. Argentina with 142,592 cases

World-wide to date there have been 1,562,049 cases and 16,665 deaths.

See below for the Family Feud game answer.

Many do things to distract themselves from the activities involved with the injection. Any distraction helps you perceive less discomfort or pain, so what is suggested, and often done, is something to take the patient's mind off the shot, to relax the muscles where the shot is being given, and sometimes to cause a second simultaneous stimulus that can affect the pain perception and reduce the sensation of pain by "tricking the nervous system".

Our brains usually receive painful sensations one at a time, so if you cause a second simultaneous pain signal, the end result can be half as much pain perceived. Sometimes nurses and doctors will gently pinch or touch you in a different location just as the needle is injected for this purpose.

See the related questions below for more details about getting or giving painless shots (jabs). There are different methods and different reactions from patient to patient and these are often related to patient age, such as when children cry and become scared as their initial responses.

Contributors have said these are some of the things they do:

• Cringe, frown, wince, grimace, flinch, grit teeth, pout.
• Cry, whimper, scream, yell.
• Take a deep breath, breathe rhythmically, hold their breath.
• Close their eyes or look away from the injection site and from the equipment being used.
• Wiggle, wriggle, thrash around, have a hissy fit, squirm, or try to run away. Kids will also kick, pinch, spit, hit or jump off the exam table. They very rarely bite.
• Chat with the doctor or nurse or try to think about something else.

• I have also been instructed to close my eyes, take a deep breath and pinch my nose just before getting it.
• Hold someone's hand tightly or hold on to the chair arm, clench fists, etc.
• Bite on a bullet (if you are a cowboy), a stick, a piece of leather, or your tongue or lip as other ways to distract yourself.
• Self hypnosis, relaxation techniques, go to your happy place, picture yourself far away, etc.
• Panic, pass out, faint.
• I wiggle my toes to keep from thinking about it.
• Everyone is different, but even though most people believe everyone hates getting a shot, contrary to this belief there are people out there that find joy in it, and therefore smile.
• Say ouch, ow, owie!
• Try to be optimistic, but some may be pessimistic and expect the worse, then that is usually what they get.
• Most of us endure the needle sting and count to 3 or 5 or 10 and it is all over and time to get your sucker.

More from contributors:

As you get older you'll begin to realize that thinking about it and anticipating the worst actually causes it to hurt worse. Most shots just feel like a skin prick when the needle goes in. There are some intramuscular shots that are made of a thicker solution (like penicillin) that are a little more uncomfortable as the medicine goes in, but, most are only noticeable when the needle goes in and are over before you expect it. If the clinician who is giving the shot with the thicker medicines will inject the needle quickly and the medicine slowly, it can make a huge difference in what you feel.

Tricks that parents, nurses and pediatricians often use with kids are:

• Swab alcohol on an opposite site of the body and then have the child blow on that spot. It will feel cold and help keep them from focusing on the injection.

• Distract them with a toy pop-up book, game, music etc. or sing songs, have them sit on your lap. Blow bubbles is really good... little kids love 'em. Have older kids bring an iPod or something to distract them.

• Let them sit on your lap, hold your hand, etc. Praise them for being brave no matter what, even if they cried.

• Show them how to blow really hard during the shot like they're blowing out birthday candles, etc.

• Tell an older child to think of a really fun cool place and pretend they're there.

• Do a funny dance or make a funny face for your child.

• Some parents have their own treat or new toy with them for when it is over. Your doctor may give stickers or suckers. Some people take the kids out for fast food, ice cream, or other special treats.

According to TV's Family Feud:

Name something people do while the doctor gives them a shot:

1. Close eyes,
2. Cringe,
3. Scream,
4. Hold breath,
5. Cry,
6. Look away,
7. Grit teeth

See also more tricks to help kids via the related links section below.