Just getting over a short bout of flu, lasted about 48 hrs and it has left me tired and washed out, was it swine flu? Who knows ?
I was offered the Tami flu medication but my GP (a really good bloke) he said it could shorten a seven day illness by one day but there was a one in ten chance that I could experience side effects which include nausea and vomiting. He recommended paracetemol and rest, plenty of fluids etc and just monitor your condition, so that I did.
I had proper flu over Christmas and what I have just had is nowhere near as bad.
The danger of diagnosis over the telephone is clear, there will be cases where mis diagnosis will cost lives of that I am certain. Also people (fit and healthy) will be calling up to try and stockpile the drugs which will falsify the figures and deprive needy cases of the drugs required.
Back in the day GP's would be out and about visiting patients and doing extra hours when an outbreak struck. It was just part of the job but not know it seems.
