Colds, influenza pay holiday visit

By: BRADLEY J. FIKES -- Staff Writer
Some heatlh care officials seeing increased cases, but others aren't | Friday, December 28, 2007 11:50 AM PST ∞

NORTH COUNTY ---- More is being passed around than just cheer and presents this holiday week.

While a bump in the number of visits to doctors for colds and influenza is noticeable to some health officials, it's normal for this time of year, they say. And some health care centers aren't even seeing more patients, others say.

Sharp Mission Park Medical Group's urgent care center has been "very busy" this week, said Cindy Gosnelin, urgent care supervisor.

"We have definitely seen a major spike this week, and I'm sure we'll see a major spike next week also," she said. "The weeks of Christmas and New Year's are always our two busiest weeks of the year."

But the chief of the county's immunization program, Adrienne Yancy, said flu incidence normally peaks in San Diego in late January or early February,

So far, the season has been mild, she said. Since July 1, only 33 people in the county have tested positive for influenza. However, 10 of those cases were diagnosed in the last week.

While no flu cases have been reported at Scripps Hospital in Encinitas, the staff has seen an unusually large number of patients with gastrointestinal illnesses, said spokeswoman Julie Lee.

Gosnelin said holiday-related close contact with visitors and cold weather that keeps people indoors help spread the illnesses, she said.

Both colds and the flu are respiratory viral infections. Flu symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness (possible extreme), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, and diarrhea and vomiting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cold symptoms are similar but milder than the flu, and runny and stuffy noses are more common. The flu is more likely to cause other serious health problems, such as pneumonia or bacterial infections, and to require hospitalization.

Vaccination helps protect against infection with the flu, said Dr. Wilma Wooten, public health officer for the county of San Diego.

"It's never too late to get a flu shot," Wooten said. "The flu season can extend into March."

Prescription anti-viral drugs also help prevent or treat flu.

However, colds cannot be prevented by vaccination, but good hygiene habits such as hand-washing after touching public objects help protect against colds and the flu, Wooten said.

The Vista Community Clinic reports a modest rise in cases of the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, said Dr. Kelly Motadel. RSV is the most common cause of bronchitis in infants and children, according to the National Center for Infectious Diseases.

"We haven't seen a huge bump yet," Motadel said. "We've gotten some reports from area hospitals like (Rady) Children's Hospital and Tri-City hospital that keep track of the number of positive tests for influenza and RSV.

"It's been very minimal at Tri-City; they've seen a little bump at Children's Hospital," Motadel said. "The population is starting to show a little bit more, but it hasn't been that dramatic yet."

Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside has reported one case of flu, said spokeswoman Courtney Berlin.

Emergency room admissions are normal at Palomar Pomerado Medical Center, said spokesman Andy Hoang. Visits are also normal for the urgent care clinic at the Centre for Health Care in Rancho Bernardo, a spokeswoman said.

Contact staff writer Bradley J. Fikes at (760) 739-6641 or bfikes@nctimes.com.