What to know as flu season ramps up early this year

Doctors across the country say flu season has arrived earlier than usual and is hitting people especially hard — mostly children, so far.

“I don’t think I remember ever seeing illness this severe, this early,” said Dr. Suchitra Rao, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora. “Our emergency department is full of children who come in with the flu. »

Colorado is one of the nation’s current hot spots for flu activity, according to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Michigan is also seeing a marked increase in cases.

“Flu, flu, flu. So much flu,” said Dr. Debra Langlois, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan CS Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. “We are flooded.”

Dr. John Schieffelin, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, also sees an increase in severe cases, particularly among children who have not been vaccinated against the flu.

“The vaccinated children are doing very well” and recovering at home, Schieffelin said. “It’s the unvaccinated children we see in the hospital.”

Flu symptoms

Langlois said she and her colleagues are seeing a fair amount of classic flu symptoms: fever, body aches and extreme fatigue.

Anecdotally, Langlois said she also sees children with severe headaches and dizziness. Her 7-year-old daughter had the flu last week and described her feeling this way: “I feel dizzy, like I’m spinning when I try to walk. » Dehydration was likely the cause, Langlois said.

Some children may also experience gastrointestinal problems like vomiting and diarrhea. But these symptoms could also occur because of a secondary virus.

Children who have a “persistent” fever lasting two to three days, Langlois said, should be seen by a doctor.

Is Tamiflu available?

Pharmacies say demand for the antiviral drug Tamiflu is also increasing. When given within about 24 hours of flu symptoms, the medication has been shown to help people feel better about a day sooner than expected.

A Walgreens spokesperson said the drugstore chain is seeing “very strong demand” for Tamiflu nationwide. The company recently saw its supply run out, but has since ordered additional inventory, the spokesperson said.

According to the Walgreens Respiratory Index — a weekly online tool that tracks the spread of respiratory illnesses — demand for over-the-counter at-home flu tests jumped 61% nationwide in the past two weeks. In New York State, where flu activity is considered very high, according to the CDC, weekly demand is up 23%, while the two-week increase stands at 111%.

Antonio Ciaccia, president of 3 Axis Advisory, a consulting firm focused on solving supply chain issues, said he has heard from a number of independent pharmacies across the United States that they are struggling to keep up with demand for Tamiflu.

“We are seeing a large early wave of flu cases, which is likely putting unexpected pressure on the broader drug distribution channel and its supply,” Ciaccia said.

Steve Moore, who runs an independent pharmacy in Plattsburgh, New York, said his main supplier is not experiencing a shortage of Tamiflu. However, its backup supplier is currently out of stock.

Although Tamiflu may be helpful, Langlois said it is not a “miracle cure.”

The antiviral is approved for people aged 2 weeks and older and is generally most effective when given within 48 hours of flu symptoms.

“The thing to consider with Tamiflu is that it reduces the duration of symptoms by about a day,” Langlois said. “It is best reserved for high-risk patients, such as patients with chronic lung disease and young children under 2 years old.”

If you are sick, stay home

“The best thing is prevention,” Langlois said, “and that’s getting the flu shot.” »

The CDC recommends annual flu shots for everyone 6 months and older.

Doctors fear that children currently suffering from the flu could spread it to their grandparents and other elderly people during the holidays.

“At the risk of sounding like a Grinch, if you have the flu and you have a fever, then you should stay home. Don’t go to family gatherings,” said Dr. Bernard Camins, medical director of infection prevention at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York. “People will understand.”