Dr. Sanjay Gupta getting treated for Swine Flu in Afghanistan
Gupta himself noted it's sort of ironic for a medical reporter to contract the illness. If a doctor who is aware of the symptoms and precautions one must take to avoid getting the flu, how can we normal folks steer clear? Does it tarnish a doctor's credibility for him to get a disease when he's been warning us about how to prevent getting it ourselves? Of course not. But we did mini-laugh at the headline, "I went to Afghanistan and all I got was H1N1," before feeling very sorry for the guy.
Gupta described his sudden symptoms as "high fevers, the lack of appetite, terrible sinus congestion, body aches, and yes – that hacking." Though those sound like characteristics of the common flu, Gupta says, "this was the sickest I have ever been." That said, he says, "there wasn’t much the doctors could really do for me. Some Tylenol and a sinus decongestant (the same my wife would’ve given me)." Gupta and his camera man (who also contracted H1N1) were also given IV fluids since they couldn't keep anything down. The whole illness lasted a few days, and he said that within a week or so he was good as new.
Though we wouldn't wish the swine flu on anyone, reading a first person account from a doctor--and hearing that he got through it--is very reassuring. We're glad Sanjay Gupta decided to share. [CNN]
