Hospitals around B.C. are struggling with the annual influx of influenza sufferers, many of whom are making matters worse for everyone by crowding into emergency waiting rooms.
In this B次元官网网址渋nformation age,B次元官网网址� there are so many misconceptions around seasonal influenza that itB次元官网网址檚 hard to know where to start. First, in most cases there is no cure or prescribed treatment that can be offered at hospitals or clinics.
Frail elderly people, and those with chronic conditions or secondary infections may need medical support. The rest of us should learn to prevent contact, treat ourselves and avoid spreading these fast-mutating viruses around.
Many people still donB次元官网网址檛 understand what B次元官网网址渢he fluB次元官网网址� is. No, itB次元官网网址檚 not generally associated with throwing up, contrary to every statement by every hockey coach who has ever spoken on TV. (Professional athletes and coaches have medical doctors on staff, but apparently they never listen to them.)
Influenza is a with chest and nasal congestion, which can last for weeks. Young children may vomit, often because they canB次元官网网址檛 control their coughing.
I wonB次元官网网址檛 go into all the nonsense people hear about the flu vaccine. Suffice it to say it is the best current effort of modern medicine. This yearB次元官网网址檚 vaccine targets the A/California, A/Hong Kong, B/Brisbane and B/Phuket strains, which emerged globally last year as the vaccine formula was finalized. ItB次元官网网址檚 not perfect, but little in science is.
B次元官网网址淔lu shot didnB次元官网网址檛 work. My kids are throwing up,B次元官网网址� is a classic comment from a parent who really should do some studying. A good place to start would be a call to the B.C. Nurseline, 8-1-1, for reliable non-emergency health advice, available around the clock.
The kids more likely have what is erroneously called B次元官网网址渟tomach flu,B次元官网网址� or to be accurate, norovirus. This is another contagious winter malady, featuring diarrhea as well as vomiting. No, thereB次元官网网址檚 no cure for that waiting at the ER either. ItB次元官网网址檚 particularly dangerous in hospitals and care homes, where quarantine and intensive cleaning are the main responses.
Taking virus-infected people to hospitals or clinics unnecessarily has the added impact of exposing medical personnel, who are already overworked at this time of year.
Our website editions carried a story last week about a , where doctors posted a letter on the door calling on employers to get a clue too.
B次元官网网址淧eople seeking sick notes B次元官网网址� who otherwise wouldnB次元官网网址檛 see a doctor B次元官网网址� end up in physiciansB次元官网网址� offices, walk-in clinics and emergency department waiting rooms,B次元官网网址� it said. B次元官网网址淭here, they may spread germs to pregnant women, frail elderly people, cancer patients and babies B次元官网网址� all of whom are vulnerable to communicable diseases.B次元官网网址�
They warn that B次元官网网址渟ick noteB次元官网网址� visits are not covered by B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Medical Services Plan. If local employers continue to demand sick notes, the clinic will invoice them $50 per visit, which is B次元官网网址渟tandard practice for non-medically necessary services for third-party organizations.B次元官网网址�
The doctors offer some advice that may sound familiar:
B次元官网网址淚n most cases, the best remedy for a patient with an isolated illness (such as a gastrointestinal virus, influenza or a common cold) is to stay home, rest and drink fluids.B次元官网网址�
Remember the common cold? ItB次元官网网址檚 technically called rhinovirus, and it also changes as it spreads through the population as a generally milder version of influenza.
People donB次元官网网址檛 talk much about getting colds any more. Now everything tends to be called the flu.
One last point: the contagious period for influenza begins when you catch it, a couple of days before you know youB次元官网网址檙e sick, and extends for about five days after symptoms emerge.
Tom Fletcher is B.C. legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Email: tfletcher@blackpress.ca Twitter: @tomfletcherbc
