Hospitals across the area are beginning to see an increase in flu cases.

During the second week of January, 158 patients were tested for flu-like symptoms by Sacred Heart Health system, with 14 percent receiving positive results for influenza.

“Many patients are not officially tested for flu when they have flu-like symptoms,” says Donna Mayne, Microbiology Lab Manager at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. “That means the actual number of people suffering from the influenza virus could be much greater than our percentages indicate.”

At Sacred Heart’s Urgent Care Center on Highway 29 in Pensacola, family medicine physician Dr. Fred Mixon has noticed an increase in patients presenting with flu-like symptoms. “In December we were seeing on average five patients a day with flu-like symptoms. In the past three weeks we have seen that number increase to eight to 10 patients a day.” says Dr. Mixon.

January and February typically are the worst flu months, but the flu season can also drag into March. although colds and flu seem to be more common in cold weather, the colder temperatures are not the culprit in making people sick. many experts believe the increase is due to people spending more time indoors with others during the winter months, which increases the chance of spreading viruses.

This year, most of the flu cases seen in the U.S. have been due to a Type a virus called H3N2. this particularly virulent virus has been known to trigger more pneumonia and other complications than other forms of influenza. The 2010/2011 seasonal flu vaccine does offer triple protection — against last year’s “swine flu” (Type a H1N1), the prevalent H3N2 strain, and the Type B flu that tends to be less severe.

Influenza is caused by very contagious viruses which infect the nose, throat and lungs and cause symptoms such as fever, chills, dry cough, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, sore throat, headache and nasal congestion. a person can spread the flu as early as one day before he or she even feels sick, and can continue to pass the flu virus to others for five to seven days after symptoms start.

There is still an ample supply of this year’s flu vaccine available in the United States, but because it takes about two weeks for the vaccine’s protection to take effect, those interested in being vaccinated should do so right away. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccine for most everyone, except infants younger than 6 months and people with severe allergies to eggs.

Comments

1. just An old Soldier on January 21st, 2011 11:22 am

   I took the Trivalent about four months ago, and as usual had a short episode of flu-like symptoms as my immune system was revved up by vaccination.

   About three weeks ago I was knocked down (hammered more like) by a flu that was almost entirely G-I (lot of fun there – not) and body aches/fever for about ten long days. I’m hearing from friends that didn’t get the vaccine that they were down for almost three weeks! It’s draining and dismal. not to mention dangerous.

   If the vaccine reduced the symptoms and duration for my illness, I’m thankful. It’s not too late to get vaccinated. this flu is a bad one this year. I’m still not back 100%.

   Get your Flu Shot. and if you’re sick, stay home and get well – don’t let this one spread. It’s a doozy.

Hospitals in Northwest Florida are seeing an uptick in flu cases.

Sacred Heart Health system reported an increase in influenza at its hospitals in the area. during the second week of January, 158 patients were tested for flu-like symptoms, with 14 percent receiving positive results for influenza, according to a press release.

?Many patients are not officially tested for flu when they have flu-like symptoms,? Donna Mayne, Microbiology Lab manager at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, said in the release. ?That means the actual number of people suffering from the influenza virus could be much greater than our percentages indicate.?

The timing of flu is very unpredictable and can vary from season to season, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the U.S. in January or February. however, seasonal flu activity can occur as late as May.

This year, most of the flu cases seen in the U.S. have been due to a Type A virus called H3N2, according to the Sacred Heart release. this virulent virus tends to trigger more pneumonia and other complications.

The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against three different flu viruses: an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season, according to cdc.gov.

There is still plenty of this year?s flu vaccine available, but those interested in getting it should do so right away since it takes about two weeks to take effect. The CDC recommends vaccine for most everyone, except infants younger than 6 months and people with severe allergies to eggs.

A person can spread the flu as early as one day before he or she even feels sick, and can continue to pass the flu virus to others for five to seven days after symptoms start. People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms: cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. many, though not all, patients, have fever or chills and vomiting and diarrhea, cdc.gov says.