MayoClinic.com Provides Credible, Up-to-date Information and Decision-Support Tools for Flu Season

MayoClinic.com Provides Credible, Up-to-date Information and Decision-Support
Tools for Flu Season

Online self-assessment tool helps evaluate symptoms of both seasonal and H1N1
swine flu

ROCHESTER, Minn., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "My body aches and my head
is throbbing. Do I have the flu or is it just because I'm stressed or tired?
Do I need a flu shot? Do I need the H1N1 vaccine, too?"

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090105/MAYOLOGO)

Millions of Americans will be asking themselves these and more questions this
fall and winter as news reports and health care providers continue to warn
about seasonal influenza and novel H1N1 influenza, otherwise known as swine
flu.

The flu symptoms self-assessment tool on MayoClinic.com helps you assess
whether you or your loved ones have some form of flu, or just a cold. If you
possibly or likely have the flu, you'll also learn whether antiviral
medication is an option. And you can check a concise list of high-risk groups
who should seek medical attention for the flu.

Influenza is a viral infection that attacks the respiratory system, including
the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. If you're generally healthy and
you catch influenza -- commonly called the flu -- you're likely to feel rotten
for a few days, but you probably won't develop complications or need hospital
care. If you have a weakened immune system or chronic illness though,
influenza can be fatal.

Novel H1N1 flu, popularly known as swine flu, is a respiratory infection
caused by an influenza virus first recognized in spring 2009. The new virus,
which is officially called swine influenza A (H1N1), contains genetic material
from human, swine and avian flu viruses. Unlike typical swine flu, H1N1 flu
spreads quickly and easily.

Based on the expertise of Mayo Clinic infectious disease and epidemiology
scientists and physicians, and other specialists for specific populations such
as children or pregnant women, MayoClinic.com provides continually-updated and
credible information regarding the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccines and
treatment recommendations.

About MayoClinic.com
Since 1904, millions of people from all walks of life have found answers at
Mayo Clinic. Now, when people need answers they can trust, they can also visit
MayoClinic.com. Launched in 1995 and visited by millions each month, this
award-winning Web site offers health information to help users assess
symptoms, understand their diagnosis and manage their health. Produced by a
team of Mayo Clinic experts, MayoClinic.com gives users access to the
expertise and knowledge of the more than 3,300 physicians and scientists of
Mayo Clinic. The Web site offers more ways to get information -- search by
symptom, procedure, disease or condition, with convenient tabs on every page
for quick links to comprehensive resources about specific health conditions.
Backed by the expertise of Mayo Clinic, MayoClinic.com provides the peace of
mind that results from knowing its medical information comes from some of the
world's leading experts. Users can sign up for a free weekly e-newsletter,
"Housecall," which includes the latest health information from Mayo Clinic.
For more information, visit http://www.mayoclinic.com/.

About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice
in the world. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for
patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of "the needs of the
patient come first." More than 3,300 physicians, scientists and researchers
and 46,000 allied health staff work at Mayo Clinic, which has sites in
Rochester, Minn., Jacksonville, Fla., and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz.
Collectively, the three locations treat more than half a million people each
year. To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to
www.mayoclinic.org/news. For information about research and education, visit
www.mayo.edu. MayoClinic.com (www.mayoclinic.com) is available as a resource
for your health stories.

.

SOURCE Mayo Clinic

Ginger Plumbo of the Mayo Clinic, day: +1-507-284-5005, evening:
+1-507-284-2511, newsbureau@mayo.edu