Influenza and Respiratory Viruses are Full Swing
We want to first say THANK YOU to all of you who have waited patiently in the office to see your provider over the last couple of months. We are definitely seeing a lot of sick kids out there! This time of year can be a challenge for everyone and we understand that wait times are often worse during the viral season. Please know that we are doing the best we can to move efficiently through patients while giving each child and parent the time that they need to feel confident with managing their child’s illness at home. Spring is coming, and we’re all looking forward to these respiratory illnesses slowing down a bit!
In the meantime, here are a few updates on influenza around the country:
- Influenza is being reported as “widespread” in Puerto Rico and 48 US states…..and yes, that includes Texas.
- Of reported cases involving a hospital admission, 95% were flu A (H1N1) which is currently the predominant strain.
- Another strain of flu A (H3N2) is on the rise and may cause kids to be sicker than we’ve seen with the H1N1 strain.
- It’s not too late to get the vaccine! There are estimations that we may see flu for quite a bit longer this year. Things have really just picked up over the last month. We have used all of our vaccine but you can still call the Health Department and get the flu vaccine for this year. We recommend it (especially for those kids under 2 or those who have asthma or other chronic medical conditions).