FLU VIRUS KEEPS HOSPITALS BUSY

The patient load at the two hospital emergency rooms in Cape Girardeau continued to run 30 percent to 40 percent above normal Thursday because of an influx of people with flu-like symptoms.

"The numbers remain very high," said Pat Pennington, nurse manager of Southeast Missouri Hospital's emergency services department.

Marcia Abernathy, director of St. Francis Medical Center's emergency room, said people generally have symptoms two to three days "before they can't take it anymore and come in to get treatment."

Pennington warned that because of the increased number of patients, waits can be long at the emergency room for those without life-threatening symptoms.

She said those with persistent high fever and respiratory distress may benefit from a trip to the emergency room. Also those with a secondary infection, evidenced by green mucus from the nose, or those with underlying medical problems like asthma, may need to visit the emergency room if their own doctor is unavailable over the long weekend, Abernathy said.

However, for the fever, body aches and upper respiratory symptoms that come with the flu, there's not much emergency room doctors can do that can't be treated at home, Pennington said.

Influenza and colds are caused by viruses that don't respond to antibiotics, Abernathy said.

Pennington advises treating symptoms. That would mean using ibuprofen or acetaminophen for aches and low-grade fever, a decongestant for a stuffy nose and cough syrup for coughs.

Abernathy said there is also a gastrointestinal bug going around that causes diarrhea and vomiting. With those symptoms, dehydration is a concern, but it's useless to force fluids if they will just be vomited back up.

A trick Abernathy has learned is to use popsicles.

"They melt slowly, so you don't put too much on your stomach at once," she said.

For very young children, Abernathy suggests giving them one-half ounce of fluid every 15 minutes.

If they tolerate that, increase the amount to three-fourths an ounce, then an ounce. If increasing the amount makes the child nauseous, cut back, she said.

That should be enough to keep the child from drying out, she said.