What’s Going Around: Flu, strep throat, stomach bug
WellSpan Pediatric Medicine Physicians across the Midstate are seeing flu, strep throat and COVID this week.
The providers at UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics in York and Spring Grove are continuing to see flu B and pink eye this week.
Pediatricians at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital are still seeing the flu and some cases of RSV. They are also seeing common colds, some stomach bugs, strep throat and ear infections.
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Physicians Roseville Pediatrics reports a lot of strep throat and more cases of the stomach bug.
They’re also still seeing high rates of influenza B and ongoing viral illnesses with fevers, including adenovirus and enterovirus. Both can cause bad sore throats, congestion and cough.
They’re seeing some sporadic RSV cases and a lot of seasonal allergies.
Dr. Joan Thode offered this advice on vomiting and rehydration:
“Because the main things lost with vomiting and diarrhea are water, sodium, chloride, and potassium, the primary goal for a child with acute gastroenteritis is hydration. Because the kidneys will balance the electrolytes in the blood, the bigger concern is the lack of water in the body, making water the most ideal hydration method in children over 12 months.
Electrolyte solutions like Pedialyte can be used for vomiting or diarrhea, but water should be the primary form of rehydration. Sports drinks generally have more sugar than electrolytes and therefore are not ideal forms of rehydration, as the sugars will be filtered out of the blood and into the urine by the kidneys. When this filtration occurs, a lot of water follows the sugar into the urine instead of staying in the bloodstream where it’s needed. Thus, you can worsen dehydration by drinking sugary fluids. Keep it simple with water and some bland, salty snacks, like pretzels, in the acute period after vomiting, and let the kidneys do their job.
Babies younger than 12 months still have immature kidneys, so hydration efforts should be coordinated with your child’s doctor.
Children of any age who cannot keep any fluids down due to vomiting and/or are showing signs of dehydration, including less urine output, fewer tears, dry mouth, cracked lips should be evaluated by their doctor sooner rather than later.”
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