What's Going Around?

We still have some time before cold and flu season sets in, but flu-like symptoms are already going around.

Dr. Ron Reynolds at Beach Urgent Care in Myrtle Beach says he hasn't had a positive flu test yet, but says it's just a matter of time. The symptoms he's seeing are coughs, sore throats and some vomiting and diarrhea.

Dr. Reynolds also wants to remind people to start focusing on proper hand washing and staying away from others who are sick. He says you should get the flu shot now rather than later, so your body has time to build up immunity.

At Doctor's Care in Surfside, family nurse practitioner James Woodcock says he's diagnosing a lot of acute gastroenteritis cases lately.  He describes it as an abrupt onset of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  It could be with or without a fever but typically the patient suffers some abdominal cramping.

The illness typically lasts 3-5 days.

Woodcock says sufferers need to remember to stay hydrated and since the illness needs to run its course, expect a few days out of school or work.

At Seacoast Primary Care in Little River, Dr. Ray Holt says he's seeing a lot of cases of poison ivy right now.  Even though it's not contagious, it can get infected if you don't treat it.

Dr. Holt says he thinks the rise in cases is because of fall weeding and planting.  A poison ivy rash looks like tiny blisters, sometimes popping up in a line.

Dr. Holt says you should wash all the clothes and gloves you wore while gardening and see a doctor for a steroid cream.