Swine Flu

Don't panic! Although the symptoms are those of typical influenza, the swine flu is actually relatively mild, Dr. Lippitt says. "You're going to see fairly sudden onset of high fever, headache and sore throat, followed by congestion and a cough," she says.

In reality, it was the rapid spread of the swine flu—and the media's intensive reporting—that brought hype to the illness. Dr. Lippitt says there are 36,000 influenza-related deaths in the United States each year, a number the swine flu won't likely come close to matching.

There is no formal recommendation for vaccinating the swine flu. It has been rumored in the medical world that the vaccine will contain two doses separated by a month and will probably make its pediatric debut in late fall.

The regular flu vaccine