Monday update February 27th

Since we will actually be on KRON today at 5pm talking about current Norovirus epidemic, I will start today's update with diarrhea.
I think that the calls about the tummy bug are subsiding but there are still some cases out there.

Rotovirus is typically the most common cause of diarrhea in young patients. By the time we get to the age of 5 or so, we usually have some immunity to many of the strains. recent studies are showing a 25% decrease in rotovirus cases since the vaccine came out several years ago.
Norovirus hits the older kids and adults. It can survive on surfaces for several hours, which helps it spread easily. good hand-washing is key to prevention.
Most of the time it lasts about 3 days. It may last longer in the younger kids.
I suspect due to the large numbers of adults and older patients hit with this recent onslaught, that it is Norovirus that we are dealing with.
Most of these patients have some vomiting, several days of loose stools, tummy aches and some low grade to moderate fevers.
If you or your child has diarrhea that comes along with bloody stools or high fever, then a bacterial infection should be ruled out.
If we have ongoing gassy, STINKY stools then at some point we will want to rule out Giardia or other parasites
Aside from the tummy bug...
We are also still seeing quite a bit of RSV
We have had LOTS of conjunctivitis.
There is a fever/ cough virus out there
We have had 2 positive flu tests to date.
They both had Type B strains of the influenza.

Stay well
Nurse Judy