BLOOMINGTON — Families and friends shared more than holidaycheer on Christmas.

Central Illinois urgent care centers were swamped on Sunday andMonday as people appeared with upper respiratory infections, strepthroat and some influenza.

“It’s a family time of year and that spreads germs,” said Dr.Sam Moore of Convenient Care at OSF Medical Group-College Avenue,Bloomington.

Some people who traveled to be with family for Christmas alreadywere ill but didn’t want to miss the get-togethers, Moore said.

Severe weather kept travelers and guests indoors, said MikeMcCrea, physician assistant with Advocate BroMenn’s HealthPoint,Normal. In addition, some people are less vigilant with handwashing etiquette during busy holiday gatherings, said Dr. LamontTyler, medical director of OSF PromptCare locations inBloomington-Normal.

All that resulted on Sunday and Monday in hundreds of people atConvenient Care, Prompt Care, HealthPoint and PromptCare at OSFSaint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac. they weretreated for viral upper respiratory infections (colds, earinfections, sinus infections, throat infections, bronchitis),coughs, bacterial infections such as strep, viral gastroenteritis(vomiting, diarrhea), and a few cases of influenza.

While bacterial infections such as strep are treatable with anantibiotic, viral infections are not, McCrea said. Instead, peoplewith viral infections try to manage their symptoms, includingtaking acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and body ache, using anasal saline rinse or decongestant for congestion, using ahumidifier to thin mucus and taking a throat lozenge for a sorethroat, Tyler said.

People should stay hydrated, rest and be fever free (without theuse of fever-reducing medicine) for at least 24 hours beforereturning to work.

People should see a doctor if they take a fever reducer and theystill have a fever after 48 hours, if their body does not respondto over-the-counter medicines after 48 hours, if they experienceshortness of breath, or if they are ill and have an underlyingmedical condition, such as diabetes, Tyler and Moore said.

Everyone else should reduce their risk of illness with frequentand thorough hand washing; covering coughs and sneezes withsleeves; not sharing utensils and cups; avoiding people who aresick and wiping down shared items (telephone receivers, computerkeyboards, exercise equipment) with alcohol wipes.