Doctors are warning of a rise in cases of nasty winter viruses like flu, with some people who have caught the flu complaining of being bedridden for weeks.
Cases of whooping cough, flu and gastroenteritis have all risen this year, with the surge in disease hitting children hard and adding “unprecedented” pressure to some hospitals.
Influenza infections in 2024 are already 27 percent higher than in the first six months of last year, with more than 170,000 cases and 29 percent of them in children under nine years of age.
A leading GP said vaccine fatigue left over from the Covid pandemic was contributing to the surge and urged Australians to roll up their sleeves as some virus strains circulating this year appear to be particularly strong.
Michael Clements, chairman of the rural Royal College of General Practitioners, said the numbers were likely much higher because many people were not getting tested.
Steph Pase, who runs a company that sells products for organizations, took to social media to describe her experience after a case of the flu last month lingered for two weeks and turned into pneumonia.
“Guys, you don’t want to get the flu,” said the young mother.
“I’ve never been sicker in my life, and I’ve had Covid. I’m a person who can get sick as a dog and refuse to stay in bed. I need to get up, but this thing has kicked me in the butt,” she said.
Steph Pase said a particularly nasty case of influenza A put her in a bind and sent her to the emergency department.
Dr Joel Ten, a spokesman for the National Asthma Council of Australia and a Melbourne-based GP, said he had “certainly heard” that some flu strains this year had been brutal.
“I’ve seen several patients who have reported having quite severe symptoms, but it depends on the individual,” he said. Yahoo News.
Ms. Pase said she was feeling better, but then the flu came back with a vengeance.
“It’s no joke, it’s 20 times worse than Covid,” he said.
“If you think you have it, go see a doctor.”
He later revealed that his flu had turned into pneumonia.
‘My doctor told me to come because my heart rate had been high for three days.
“He sent me to the hospital and I was in the emergency room for a few hours. I was given an IV with antibiotics and fluids, plus two rounds of antibiotics to take home.”
Natalie Hunt, from Sydney, said she has been bedridden for three weeks due to a respiratory virus despite resting and eating healthily.
‘This is the longest and nastiest illness I’ve had since I was a kid… green mucus in my chest, cough, fatigue, swollen glands, lower back pain and blocked ears.
“When I had Covid, I had acute symptoms but they only lasted a few days. With this I feel like I’m going to recover but I wake up the same.”
Dr Ten said the virus might “subjectively” appear worse as many people have been vaccinated against Covid, which reduced symptoms, but are not getting the flu shot.
Cases are expected to rise as the winter virus peak hits warmer areas in August or September.
“We’re certainly concerned that this will continue to escalate and potentially overwhelm hospital systems,” Dr. Clements said.
This year, Australia has recorded more than 170,000 cases of flu, an increase of almost 30 per cent on last year (pictured: a computer graphic of the flu virus)
His comments echo those of NSW Health Minister Ryan Park, who attributed the “unprecedented” demand on his state’s emergency departments to a 30 per cent rise in flu cases, combined with fewer GPs working in the community.
Victoria’s health department warns that flu vaccine coverage remains “low” across all age groups, including children, despite a six-fold increase in emergency department presentations due to flu between April and June.
Dr. Clements said there is probably no single cause for the flu surge, but it could be due to lower herd immunity, prior COVID-19 infection that has reduced immunity, more international travel and people going to work when they don’t feel well.
Whooping cough cases have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels, reaching more than 12,900 so far in 2024, with total infections in 2023 accounting for a quarter of that number.
More than 60 per cent of cases have been in children under 14, and the NSW Department of Health is warning of “abnormally high” whooping cough and pneumonia infections in school-aged children.
“These are spikes, and we certainly have to acknowledge that these are large increases compared to recent years,” Dr. Clements said.
Cases of a particular gastrointestinal strain have also tripled the 2023 total, reaching more than 11,700.
Cryptosporidiosis, a type of gastroenteritis caused by a parasite, is spread in swimming pools and anyone who has symptoms is advised to stay out of the water for at least four weeks as they could still be shedding the virus, which can survive chlorine.
