SNIFFLE SUFFERERS ESCAPING WORSE ILLS.Byline: Phil Davis
Los Angeles so far has ducked a bad flu season, but some doctors said Monday that they are struggling against the ``super sniffles snif·fle intr.v. snif·fled, snif·fling, snif·fles 1. To breathe audibly through a runny or congested nose. 2. To weep or whimper lightly with spasmodic congestion of the nose. n. 1. .'' Caused by the respiratory syncytial virus respiratory syncytial virus (sĭnsĭsh`əl): see cold, common. , the super sniffles typically hit infants and toddlers and can be dangerous to them, but now adults are contracting the illness, too, doctors said. They said the infection in adults feels like a common cold with an extra kick. ``It's always a horror in the winter,'' said Dr. Craig McElderry, an emergency room physician at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. ``So every winter is bad, but this one does feel worse.'' More than 400 respiratory viruses can make the winter months miserable and account for many empty office cubicles. The respiratory syncytial virus or RSV RSV respiratory syncytial virus; Rous sarcoma virus. RSV abbr. respiratory syncytial virus RSV 1 Respiratory syncytial virus, see there 2 Rous sarcoma virus, see there appears to be the one attacking at a rate higher than usual for the season, doctors said. ``We have been getting a lot of respiratory tract infections. That seems to be the primary complaint here at our urgent care facility. We're seeing more respiratory syncytial virus in adults, but we're not sure why,'' said Dr. Armand Aalamian, an urgent care physician at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Woodland Hills. Although cases of RSV are not tracked, state and county health officials said they also have noticed an upswing, and the season won't end until March. ``We've had a lot more RSV activity than influenza,'' said Dr. Michael Hendry, a respiratory ailment ail·ment n. A physical or mental disorder, especially a mild illness. expert with the state Department of Health Services Department of Health Services may refer to:
The virus produces thick nasal secretions, and babies, whose airways are small, can become congested con·gest·ed adj. Affected with or characterized by congestion. congested ENT adjective Referring to a boggy blood-filled tissue. See Nasal congestion. to the point where they can't breathe and have trouble eating, physicians said. RSV often leads to serious lower respiratory infections like bronchiolitis Bronchiolitis Definition Bronchiolitis is an acute viral infection of the small air passages of the lungs called the bronchioles. Description Bronchiolitis is extremely common. in children under 2. It can lead to pneumonia and also has been linked to the onset of asthma later in life. Dr. Pejman Salimpour, clinical chief of pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a world-renowned hospital located in Los Angeles, California. History Cedars-Sinai is the result of a merger in 1961 between two major Los Angeles hospitals, Cedars of Lebanon and Mount Sinai Home for the Incurables, with Steve Broidy as , said he hadn't noticed an increase in RSV cases among children this year. But the virus continues to cause major trouble, he said. ``It's not unusual,'' he said. ``It's a very prevalent virus in the community, especially this time of year. We started seeing it in very significant numbers in early January, and it has continued so far into February. ``The problems with this virus are severe,'' he continued. ``Almost half of children who get bronchiolitis develop asthma later in life. The problem is we don't have any solid therapy for it.'' Salimpour said there is a vaccine that will soon be included in standard immunizations for children. Until then, though, parents should avoid taking a child to busy public places in the winter, make sure those close to the child keep their hands clean and, whenever possible, postpone elective surgery elective surgery Surgery Any operation that can be performed with advanced planning–eg, cholecystectomy, hernia repair, colonic resection, coronary artery bypass until the epidemic plays out in March. Frequent hand washing is the best way to beat any virus. As for adults who catch RSV, Salimpour added: ``It's not a concern. We always get common colds from it.'' So far this year, the Southland has been relatively free of influenza after a brutal epidemic strained local health-care providers nearly to the breaking point in the previous flu season. ``It's a light flu season,'' said Dr. Shirley Fannin, director of disease control at the Los Angeles County Public Health Department. ``But we have had a sprinkling here and there of what appear to be sore throats and other common cold viruses that cause coughs, runny noses, feeling tired and wanting to stay in bed. But it's nothing like influenza, which really knocks you off your feet.'' Influenza usually causes fever, body aches, chills and serious illness for three days, Fannin said, and it can take as long as two weeks to feel fully recovered. Doctors say the flu cases are less prevalent this year because the predominant strain, the A Sydney influenza virus influenza virus n. Any of three viruses of the genus Influenzavirus designated type A, type B, and type C, that cause influenza and influenzalike infections. , was included in this year's vaccine. It was a new strain last year and swept the world in weeks, infecting millions. But the widespread infection also helped increase immunity among those who caught that particular strain of flu the first time it swept the region. Flu tips Wash Clean hands won't carry viruses to susceptible areas. Vaccinate vac·ci·nate v. To inoculate with a vaccine in order to produce immunity to an infectious disease such as diphtheria or typhus. vac Flu shots increase your chances of avoiding the most prevalent flu strains. Eat well A diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables helps the body resist infection. Call in sick Going to work will only feed the epidemic by spreading the virus. CAPTION(S): Box Box: Flu tips (see text) |
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