It seems that many Americans are starting the New Year off sick.

According to Latest official health data40 states reported high or very high levels of the disease last week. Illinois and several other Midwest states fall under the “high” category.

But which viruses are killing people the most right now?

Kerry Reid of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there is a lot of flu.

Latest CDC Hospitalizations Data And other indicators show that the flu virus is growing faster than other germs, Reid said. He added that several seasonal strains of flu are driving cases, with no one dominant.

Pediatric hospitals have been dealing with RSV since November, but “influenza has now joined the party,” said Dr. Jason Newland, an infectious disease specialist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Of course, there are many bugs that cause fever, cough, sore throat and other flu-like symptoms. One is COVID-19. Another is RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, which is a common cause of cold-like symptoms but can be dangerous for children and the elderly.

“Now we’re really starting to roll,” he added. “Our hospitals are busy.”

Add to that the fact that norovirus is spreading rapidly in parts of the U.S., including the Chicago area, and hospitals are under pressure, some experts said.

“Usually we see that big admission rate really spikes like a week after all the holidays. So usually we see it in January, but right now, I’ll tell you all, you know. are, ERs, urgent care is really kind. Pushing at the seams,” Dr. Whitney Lin, lead physician of family medicine at Provident Hospital’s Sengstack Health Center, told NBC Chicago on Monday.

Lin described the admissions rate as “alarming.”

What to know about current circulating diseases:

Other symptoms of the virus now spreading

COVID

So far, the symptoms of COVID are the same:

  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose
  • to sneeze
  • Fatigue
  • headache
  • Muscle pain
  • Altered sense of smell
  • the crowd
  • Fever or chills.
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Earlier Reports The focus was on gastrointestinal symptoms possibly related to the virus.

“Gastrointestinal problems including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea” have already been identified as potential symptoms of COVID-19, said Dr. Kaitlyn Jetlina, CDC scientific advisor and epidemiologist.

“We don’t have specific data on the incidence of GI symptoms with the current strain of the virus, but the symptoms of COVID-19 can vary and certainly vary based on the individual,” Jatellina told NBC Chicago in July. ”

Last fall, a Chicago-area doctor He said he had noticed a change in general symptoms. His patients reported when JN.1 variants became dominant.

Dr. Chantal Tin Fong, a family medicine physician with Seng Stack Health Center at Provident Hospital in Cook County, noted at the time that the cases she saw had fewer complaints of fever, body aches and chills, and more sore throats, fatigue, and fatigue. is and cough.

“We still see some patients experience loss of appetite, loss of taste or smell. So it kind of depends,” he said. “One patient was very tired. Like she couldn’t really do much. And that’s when you know… it’s different. It’s not just coughing and shortness of breath. We still Let’s see it.”

RSV

According to the CDC, people infected with RSV usually show symptoms within 4 to 6 days after being infected. The most common symptoms are:

  • Runny nose
  • the crowd
  • Loss of appetite
  • Cough
  • to sneeze
  • fever

Symptoms usually appear in stages and do not occur all at once. Symptoms may appear in adults – but are less noticeable in young children.

Although RSV usually causes a mild, cold-like illness, it can also cause severe illness such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

According to , other signs of serious cases include the following: Mayo Clinic.

  • Wheezing – a high-pitched sound usually heard on exhalation (breathing out).
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing – the person may prefer to sit up instead of lying down.
  • Blue color of skin due to lack of oxygen

Flu

According to the CDC, the flu can cause mild to severe illness, and can potentially lead to death.

“Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly,” notes the CDC.

Some common symptoms include:

  • Fever or fever/chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle or body aches
  • headache
  • fatigue (tiredness)
  • Some people may experience vomiting and diarrhea, although this is more common in children than adults.

Norovirus

Along with vomiting and diarrhea, the most common symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain, body aches, headache, and fever.

But if you suspect you have norovirus, another thing to watch for is dehydration.

“If you have norovirus, you may feel very sick, and may have vomiting or diarrhea several times a day. This can lead to dehydration (a lack of body fluids), especially In young children, older adults and people with other illnesses,” The CDC noted

Symptoms of dehydration include:

  • Decreased urination
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Dizziness on standing
  • Crying with little or no tears
  • Abnormal sleep or restlessness

Other viruses

Strep throat and whooping cough have also been reported.

Investigators are also looking closely at another type of influenza virus, the type A H5N1 version of bird flu. CDC They say It had 66 human cases reported last year, but none of them came to light in the past week.

Reid said the cases are “pretty sporadic” and the overall risk to the public is low. Almost all have been traced to direct contact with infected animals, with no evidence of spread between people.



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