The illness that’s going around in Central Florida this week is one that everyone dreads. Unfortunately, it’s very easily spread, but fortunately, there are things you can do to feel better fast.

Centra Care physicians have seen so many cases of stomach flu recently that they decided to check out the trend across all 18 locations. While the number of cases in January remained fairly steady, February has shown a steady climb in patients with stomach flu.

So is the stomach flu already in your area of town? Here are the places being hit the hardest:

Clermont Centra Care has seen a 250% increase, the Azalea Park & Sand Lake centers have treated double the number of patients, and Kissimmee & Waterford Lakes have seen a 300% increase in kids with stomach flu.

LEARN MORE:

Stomach flu, also known as gastroenteritis, is irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by a virus. Symptoms include: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and low-grade fever. Because the stomach flu is viral in nature it is highly contagious and can’t be treated with antibiotics.

The biggest risk with stomach flu is dehydration – so if you suspect your kids have it – you need to look out for:

• Decreased urination
• Extreme Lethargy
• Light headedness

Stomach flu lasts 1-2 days on average, but you shouldn’t wait for dehydration to kick in before seeing a doctor. Get to a doctor as soon as you have symptoms of stomach flu, and there’s a much better chance you’ll feel better fast – with medications that can stop the vomiting, slow the diarrhea and prevent dehydration in the little ones. A doctor may also recommend hydration drinks for your infant or child to replace fluids, salts, and minerals that have been lost. Adults can rehydrate with sports drinks such as Gatorade. Do not use soda, fruit juices etc. for rehydration. They don’t contain minerals, but do contain sugar, which makes diarrhea worse.

The best prevention against stomach flu is frequent hand washing, especially after bathroom use (including diaper changes) and the handling of food.

There 18 Centra Care Urgent Care locations – and a Florida Hospital certified physician on site – 7 Days a Week. For locations and phone numbers visit: www.CentraCare.org

Sincerely,



Florida Hospital Centra Care
407-200-CARE (2273)
To learn more about "What's Going Around" in our community you can listen to the Centra Care Senior Medical Director each Tuesday morning between 8am and 8:30am on 88.3FM radio - Z88.3