MASON CITY — if you have been suffering from upper-respiratoryinfections or the stomach flu lately, take solice in knowing thatyou are not alone.

A spokeswoman for Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa said theEmergency Department has had several cases of sore throat, upperrespiratory infection, ear pain and coughs in recent days.

The number of cases reported at the Mercy Emergency Departmentis up slightly from seasons past, but it’s a pretty normal year,she said.

The number one illness reported to Mercy Family Health Line,however, is stomach flu, properly known as viralgastroenteritis.

“We’ve had the most calls over the last two months for thestomach flu,” said Melissa Foster, clinical leader at Mercy FamilyHealth Line.

“Truly, it’s the number one call.”

Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and low-grade fever. It isoccurring in both adults and children, Foster said.

Caused by a virus, the illness has to run its course. Patientsare advised to take Tylenol, rest and drink plenty of liquids.

Electrolyte replacement drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade areespecially good for adults, Foster said. for children, Pedialyte, arehydration solution, is recommended.

“If you are sick, stay home and don’t expose others to it.”

Karen Crimmings, disease prevention and investigation servicemanager for the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health,said she has been hearing reports of strep throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Influenza, strains A and B, has been increasing over the lastcouple of weeks, she said.

In North Iowa, six new lab confirmed cases of flu have beenconfirmed since Feb. 1, Cummings said. But some patients who havethe flu do not necessarily go to a doctor, she said.

“You’ve got a chance to get influenza three times this yearbecause (all three strains) are circulating,” she said. “Now’s thetime to get vaccinated if you haven’t been.”

Nausea and vomiting, symptoms of “stomach flu,” have beenreported since Thanksgiving, Crimmings said.

“Once it gets in the community it kind of has to run itscourse,” she said.

Bethany Hythecker, school nurse for the Clear Lake SchoolDistrict, said absences during the last two weeks are the highestthey have been all winter.

They include some cases of the flu, strains A and B,characterized by high fever and body aches.

There have also been reports of sinus infection, strep throatand stomach flu, Hythecker said.

Deb Ballantyne, administrative assistant at Newman Catholic HighSchool, said five to 10 students have been out each day this weekwith strep throat, stomach flu and other illness, but that it wasnothing out of the ordinary.

Hal Minear, assistant superintendent of administrative servicesfor the Mason City public schools, said there has not been asignificant number of cases of illness reported in the Mason Citypublic schools during the week.