Scarier than Swine Flu?

Dangerous, opportunistic bacteria like pneumonia often follow right behind this virus.

While most people with the H1N1 virus don’t get any sicker than they do with seasonal flu, a few individuals—including healthy young people—become dangerously ill. As 60 Minutes detailed on October 18, the flu virus spreads dramatically in these people, seriously damaging the lining of the lungs and other respiratory tissue.

If that’s not bad enough, deadly bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumonia can invade the lungs next, spiking a high fever. Chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, and bluish skin color may also occur.

Whether you get a flu shot or not, consider the benefits of probiotics, or friendly bacteria. Normally found in healthy people, these "good" bacteria help us fight off dangerous bacteria and other pathogens. Specifically, probiotics have been found to stimulate T cells and natural killer cells, which are key players in healthy immunity.

Unfortunately antibiotic drugs kill off beneficial as well as dangerous bacteria. So anyone who takes antibiotic drugs might want to take probiotic supplements—at least two hours after taking antibiotics.

Children—among those most at risk for H1N1 virus—given probiotic supplements daily for six months had significantly less coughing, fever, and respiratory symptoms than those who did not receive probiotics. Research also finds that probiotics fight pneumonia and help reduce the need for antibiotic drugs in the first place.