Lately I’ve been reminded of a blockbuster movie from my youth. It contains a scene that even those who never saw the film are likely to recognize. A sleeping family is jolted awake, and from the foot of the bed the young daughter sings “they’re here!”
One might wonder why I’m thinking so much about Poltergeist. That quote started ringing in my brain during our last monthly clinic meeting, when our lab director reported on the previous day’s influenza statistics. Nearly 90% of the tests were positive. Respiratory viruses may not seem like a natural comparison to malevolent ghosts, but they’re here, and things are likely to get worse before they get better.
Last season, there were over 20,000 confirmed cases of influenza in South Dakota. Over 800 people were hospitalized. Nearly 50 died.
When I diagnose someone with influenza, I warn them to expect misery. They will likely have fevers, body aches, exhaustion, and of course cough. Some people are out of commission for only a few days, others for two weeks. Some people can barely get out of bed, and some people just feel a bit run down.
The flu shot helps, but it is far from perfect. People who get the shot can still get influenza. Generally it is between 40 and 60% effective at preventing infection. Still, those who had the shot and get sick anyway are significantly less likely to be hospitalized. So long as influenza is circulating you should still get your shot. It isn’t too late even if you already had influenza, as the shot contains 3 different strains.
Of course, things like washing your hands, not touching your face, and avoiding sick people are also useful. It can be hard to distinguish one respiratory virus from another.
Influenza tends to strike more suddenly than many others, but symptoms have significant overlap. Testing is the best way to distinguish whether or not your illness is influenza. Influenza is also one of the few viruses for which we have specific treatments, so getting that answer can be useful. Treatment is generally used for those at higher risk, such as young children, people over 65, those who have chronic health conditions or are pregnant. Importantly, medicine should be started within the first 48 hours of illness.
So what can you do if you get sick? First, stay home! Get lots of rest. Drink lots of fluids. Fever reducers and over the counter pain medications can help you be more comfortable. Pseudoephedrine can help the congestion. Guaifenesin can help thin the mucous. Dextromethorphan or honey can help soothe the cough.
Finally, watch out for signs that you are getting sicker instead of better. Influenza can lead to ear infections, sinus infections, pneumonia, and things that are even more serious, like bloodstream infections, inflammation of the heart or brain, and kidney failure. If something doesn’t seem right, get it checked out.
Debra Johnston, MD. is part of The Prairie Doc® team of physicians and currently practices as a Family Medicine Doctor at Avera Medical Group in Brookings, South Dakota. Follow The Prairie Doc® at www.prairiedoc.org, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Threads. Prairie Doc Programming includes On Call with the Prairie Doc®, a medical Q&A show (most Thursdays at 7pm streaming on Facebook), 2 podcasts, and a Radio program (on SDPB), providing health information based on science, built on trust.
