What We're Seeing in the Office Right Now

So, with all the hype about H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu), I thought I'd update you on what diseases we're seeing in the office right now.

There has been a new round of croup in the last 4-5 days. This particular croup has a high fever with it (102) and the typical barky "seal" cough. We should see your child if he or she has trouble breathing at night due to tightness in the throat. Remember to try a steamy bathroom or going out in the cool night air if your child is struggling to breathe, and if that doesn't work, go to the emergency room.

We are still seeing quite a bit of "seasonal" flu: Influenza A and Influenza B. Kids have a lot of body aches with this, along with fever, runny nose and cough. We are testing with our rapid flu tests if children have these symptoms, and anyone positive for Influenza A will also have a test sent out for H1N1 flu.

There has been quite a bit of Strep throat in the past week as well. Remember, Strep symtpoms in kids and teenagers usually are fever, sore throat, stomach ache, vomiting and headache. Most kids will NOT have runny nose or cough, although they may have a stuffy nose with Strep. We should see kids with Strep-like symptoms so we can test them and treat them if they are positive.

Remember to wash your hands! The CDC recommends singing the "Happy Birthday to You" song while you wash your hands to make sure you wash long enough to get viruses and bacteria off your skin.