What’s Going Around: Strep throat, stomach bug, allergies

WellSpan Pediatric Medicine Physicians across the Midstate are seeing strep throat, a stomach bug, asthma, seasonal allergies and eczema this week.

The providers at UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics in York and Spring Grove are seeing viral illness, pink eye and strep throat this week.

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Physicians Roseville Pediatrics reports a lot of seasonal allergy suffering this week. They also saw an increase in the stomach bug.

Doctors report strep throat cases are still high and they diagnosed mulitple viral upper respiratory infections. They also saw a few cases of hand, foot and mouth disease.

There was a bump in mono cases this week and an increase in enterovirus, which causes the classic upper respiratory symptoms of runny nose and sore throat, but also comes with stomach upset, belly pain and diarrhea.

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Dr. Joan Thode offered the following advice about enterovirus:

“Enterovirus is a particularly mean virus that can cause an array of symptoms that can include congestion, runny nose, sore throat – sometimes with mouth sores – nausea, vomiting, belly pain, extreme fatigue, cough, muscle soreness or general achiness, headaches, and fever. Neck stiffness can occur and can mimic meningitis. In asthmatics, enterovirus can cause wheezing and asthma attacks with tight chest and difficulty breathing.

As with all viruses, treatment includes methods to support the patient through the illness, as antibiotics will not work. Acute enterovirus can last from four to seven days, sometimes with a gradual recovery. The main treatments are pain relief and hydration. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are the mainstays of comfort treatment, and hydration is the primary goal. The mouth sores can make hydration difficult, as the pain makes kids want to avoid swallowing. Chilling water and providing low-acidity cold or frozen treats like slushies can help prevent dehydration from a sore throat.

Enterovirus is spread via droplets from one patient to another, such as when coughing or sneezing. The virus can also survive on surfaces that have been touched by someone who coughed into their hand. Frequent hand-washing and disinfecting of toys are important for protecting younger kids as best as possible.”

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