If you or someone in your household is currently battling a virus of some sort, you are not alone. Walk through any school, store or home right now and you are likely to hear a chorus of sniffles, coughs and sneezes.
And it is not just here in our community. Around the country, respiratory illnesses have been rampant, fueled by holiday travel, school breaks, and the cold weather sending people indoors.
As of the second week in January, the Centers for Disease Control estimated that 19 million Americans had contracted the flu, with a quarter million needing hospitalization and 10,000 dying from the virus.
Here in Nevada County, health care providers say the cold and flu season has been intensifying.
“Anecdotally I have seen an uptick in influenza-like illness over the last several weeks,” reports Nick Sparr, MD, a third-year resident in the Sierra Nevada Family Medicine Residency Program. “We’ve also started seeing flu cases among hospitalized patients as well.”
While there are a variety of viruses circulating, including influenza and the common cold, many of the symptoms people are experiencing are similar.
“I’m generally seeing patients with classic flu-like symptoms,” Dr. Sparr says. “Typically, patients experience the triad of fever, body aches, and fatigue. This is often associated with cough, congestion, and sore throat. Severity has varied among patients.”
If you or someone you care for is sick, it can be tough to know when you need to seek care and when it is ok to ride it out at home. Dr. Sparr says that while virus sufferers typically recover on their own with rest and fluids, there are exceptions.
“While most people will improve without a visit to the doctor, some who are infected with the influenza virus may benefit from a prescription for a medication called oseltamivir,” he explains. “This medication can reduce the severity and duration of influenza if started within 48 hours of symptom onset. Additionally, this medication can help prevent transmission of the influenza virus if someone in your home has the infection.”
Dr. Sparr says the fundamentals of at-home care for a cold or the flu include staying hydrated, resting, and managing symptoms with over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and aches.
“Tea with added honey can be remarkably helpful for cough,” he says. “Most importantly, stay home if you’re sick and practice good hand hygiene to avoid spreading illness to others.”
If symptoms become worse or persist, Dr. Sparr recommends a visit to your primary care physician or an urgent care clinic. And be aware of symptoms that indicate a visit to the ER is needed: severe shortness of breath, severe or persistent vomiting, confusion, or dizziness that doesn’t improve with rest and fluids.
In the early stages of the illness, Dr. Sparr says testing to determine the specific virus can be helpful for several reasons.
“First, it helps guide treatment decisions; if we confirm influenza early, we can prescribe antivirals that reduce symptom duration and severity,” he explains. “Second, knowing whether you have flu versus COVID-19 helps with isolation recommendations and protecting vulnerable household members. Third, testing helps us track community trends and allocate public health resources appropriately.”
That said, not everyone needs testing. If you’re young, healthy, and experiencing mild symptoms, rest and supportive care may be sufficient.
“But for high-risk individuals, those with severe symptoms, or when knowing the diagnosis would change management — testing is definitely worthwhile,” Dr. Sparr says. “We can often do both flu and COVID testing simultaneously with a single nasal swab.”
Dr. Sparr reminds everyone that the best strategy we have against respiratory viruses is prevention.
“Of course, prevention is key,” he says. “If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, it’s not too late. Although the flu vaccine does not always prevent becoming infected with influenza, the vaccine remains our best tool for preventing severe illness from flu.”
In the meantime, if you are showing symptoms of the flu or any other respiratory virus, do what you can to stay hydrated and rested. Talk to your doctor about the best course of treatment for you, based on your symptoms, your age, and any underlying factors you may have.
And remember, when you are feeling under the weather you can do your part to protect others in the community by staying home. It will not only prevent you from spreading the illness to others, but it will help you get better faster, too.