Hospitals around B.C. are struggling with the annual influx of influenza sufferers, many of whom are making matters worse for everyone by crowding into emergency waiting rooms.
In this 鈥渋nformation age,鈥� there are so many misconceptions around seasonal influenza that it鈥檚 hard to know where to start. First, in most cases there is no cure or prescribed treatment that can be offered at hospitals or clinics.
Frail elderly people, and those with chronic conditions or secondary infections may need medical support. The rest of us should learn to prevent contact, treat ourselves and avoid spreading these fast-mutating viruses around.
Many people still don鈥檛 understand what 鈥渢he flu鈥� is. No, it鈥檚 not generally associated with throwing up, contrary to every statement by every hockey coach who has ever spoken on TV. (Professional athletes and coaches have medical doctors on staff, but apparently they never listen to them.)
Influenza is a respiratory illness with chest and nasal congestion, which can last for weeks. Young children may vomit, often because they can鈥檛 control their coughing.
I won鈥檛 go into all the nonsense people hear about the flu vaccine. Suffice it to say it is the best current effort of modern medicine. This year鈥檚 vaccine targets the A/California, A/Hong Kong, B/Brisbane and B/Phuket strains, which emerged globally last year as the vaccine formula was finalized. It鈥檚 not perfect, but little in science is.
鈥淔lu shot didn鈥檛 work. My kids are throwing up,鈥� is a classic comment from a parent who really should do some studying. A good place to start would be a call to the B.C. Nurseline, 8-1-1, for reliable non-emergency health advice, available around the clock.
The kids more likely have what is erroneously called 鈥渟tomach flu,鈥� or to be accurate, norovirus. This is another contagious winter malady, featuring diarrhea as well as vomiting. No, there鈥檚 no cure for that waiting at the ER either. It鈥檚 particularly dangerous in hospitals and care homes, where quarantine and intensive cleaning are the main responses.
Taking virus-infected people to hospitals or clinics unnecessarily has the added impact of exposing medical personnel, who are already overworked at this time of year.
Our website editions carried a story last week about a medical clinic in Pemberton, where doctors posted a letter on the door calling on employers to get a clue too.
鈥淧eople seeking sick notes 鈥� who otherwise wouldn鈥檛 see a doctor 鈥� end up in physicians鈥� offices, walk-in clinics and emergency department waiting rooms,鈥� it said. 鈥淭here, they may spread germs to pregnant women, frail elderly people, cancer patients and babies 鈥� all of whom are vulnerable to communicable diseases.鈥�
They warn that 鈥渟ick note鈥� visits are not covered by B.C.鈥檚 Medical Services Plan. If local employers continue to demand sick notes, the clinic will invoice them $50 per visit, which is 鈥渟tandard practice for non-medically necessary services for third-party organizations.鈥�
The doctors offer some advice that may sound familiar:
鈥淚n most cases, the best remedy for a patient with an isolated illness (such as a gastrointestinal virus, influenza or a common cold) is to stay home, rest and drink fluids.鈥�
Remember the common cold? It鈥檚 technically called rhinovirus, and it also changes as it spreads through the population as a generally milder version of influenza.
People don鈥檛 talk much about getting colds any more. Now everything tends to be called the flu.
One last point: the contagious period for influenza begins when you catch it, a couple of days before you know you鈥檙e sick, and extends for about five days after symptoms emerge.
Tom Fletcher is B.C. legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Email: tfletcher@blackpress.ca Twitter: @tomfletcherbc
