Strained ERs flooded with common flu cases

July 25, 2003

- -Rick-

[Chemtrail_Illness_Research] Strained ERs flooded with common flu cases

Flu victims and people with flulike symptoms are flooding local hospital emergency rooms, health experts said Wednesday, straining an already taxed system with cases better served with Tylenol and bed rest.

"I'm encouraging people to make use of health resources in the community," said Terence Cunningham, administrator of Ben Taub Hospital. "But we encourage people to get their flu shots and see their physicians (for nonemergency symptoms), rather than coming here and being exposed to more people who might have the flu."

"There's a lot of things we can tell parents to help them make decisions at home," said Dr. Paul Sirbaugh, an emergency physician at Texas Children's Hospital. "(But) we always want them to know if they're ever concerned, they can call that number or come to the emergency department. If the child is gravely ill, call 911 and come in."

Texas Children's has identified 85 flu cases in the past 10 days, an enormous leap over the typical flu season caseload of nine a week. Two children are in intensive care. At Ben Taub, which is part of the Harris County Hospital District, doctors are seeing 80 to 100 pediatric patients a day and 85 percent are flu cases, said a spokeswoman. Similarly, the volume at LBJ Hospital has doubled.

"We're starting to see it in adults, but it's hitting kids stronger," said Dr. Ron Charles, director of emergency services at LBJ, which also is part of the hospital district.

Unpleasant as the illness is, causing high fevers, body aches, coughs and general malaise, there's very little doctors can do with the flu. Antibiotics don't help because flu is caused by a virus. Caught early, antiviral drugs may decrease the duration of illness.

Health officials acknowledged that some uninsured patients may have no choice but to use the emergency room.

Barbara Reece, chief nursing officer at LBJ, where a nurse hot line is based, said a recent caller described onset of a temperature of 104 and other symptoms, such as dehydration. He was advised to see a doctor immediately or come into the ER.

"A lot of our patients don't have any other health care access," Reece said. "More than likely, he came to our emergency room."

Sirbaugh offered a few guidelines for parents wondering whether their child's problems can wait until morning or if a visit to the emergency room is necessary.

·Parents should call their pediatrician or go to the ER when babies younger than 3 months have a fever of 100.4 or more. Infants less than 1 month old with a fever of 100.4 should be taken to the emergency room immediately.

·With children older than 3 months, fever is less of a concern. If the child perks up after treatment with Tylenol or Motrin, it's probably not an emergency.

·If the child has a rapid heart rate and a bluish color, and seems to be breathing rapidly or laboriously, call your doctor or bring the child to the emergency room.

·Vomiting and diarrhea are common during flu season. Make sure the child gets enough fluids.