Laboratory-confirmed
cases of influenza increased by more than 5,000 in Pennsylvania and an
additional 18 people died of flu-related complications in the past week,
the state Department of Health reported Tuesday.
The updated reports, for the week that ended Saturday, bring the totals to 40 deaths and 16,511 confirmed flu cases for the season.
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"For many flu victims, staying at home, drinking fluids and taking acetaminophen is all that they need," said Ralph J. Riviello, president of the emergency physicians group. "But there will be exceptions, and those people should seek immediate assistance."
Those exceptions include people who experience signs of pneumonia, low oxygen levels or severe dehydration.
"An adult with difficulty breathing, chest or abdomen pain, dizziness, confusion or severe vomiting needs to head to the emergency room," Riviello said in the statement.
In addition, children should be taken to a doctor if they have those symptoms, or develop bluish skin, a rash with a fever or if they are not waking up or interacting, the groups said. Also, if flu symptoms appear to be improving, but then return with a fever and a cough worse than before, a person should seek treatment at an emergency department, they said.
-snip-
Full article: http://articles.mcall.com/2013-01-15/health/mc-pennsylvania-flu-outbreak-20130115_1_flu-cases-flu-deaths-influenza
The updated reports, for the week that ended Saturday, bring the totals to 40 deaths and 16,511 confirmed flu cases for the season.
-snip-
"For many flu victims, staying at home, drinking fluids and taking acetaminophen is all that they need," said Ralph J. Riviello, president of the emergency physicians group. "But there will be exceptions, and those people should seek immediate assistance."
Those exceptions include people who experience signs of pneumonia, low oxygen levels or severe dehydration.
"An adult with difficulty breathing, chest or abdomen pain, dizziness, confusion or severe vomiting needs to head to the emergency room," Riviello said in the statement.
In addition, children should be taken to a doctor if they have those symptoms, or develop bluish skin, a rash with a fever or if they are not waking up or interacting, the groups said. Also, if flu symptoms appear to be improving, but then return with a fever and a cough worse than before, a person should seek treatment at an emergency department, they said.
-snip-
Full article: http://articles.mcall.com/2013-01-15/health/mc-pennsylvania-flu-outbreak-20130115_1_flu-cases-flu-deaths-influenza
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