Tuesday, January 29, 2013
A new norovirus strain was detected last year in Australia and has reached the United States.
Although the flu is on everyone’s minds this season, the winter vomiting bug, or the norovirus, is making its rounds. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the norovirus causes about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths each year, mostly in young children and the elderly. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pains. The CDC points out that the norovirus is often referred to as the stomach flu, but it is unrelated to influenza. A new norovirus strain, GII.4 Sydney, was detected last year in Australia. The strain hit the U.K and sickened over a million people. It has now reached the United States and this new strain appears to be taking over. Of norovirus cases reported from …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Last week, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham offered free flu shots.
On Thursday, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham provided free flu shots to residents of Needham and surrounding communities including Daniel Trigg of Medfield. Sixty-five people received flu shots as part of the hospital's continued effort to fight the flu.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Hand washing is one of the ways to keep kids healthy.
The following information is from the Red Cross: Health officials are reporting widespread influenza outbreaks in 47 of 50 states, up from just a week ago. One age group hit particularly hard is children, and the American Red Cross has some steps parents can teach their kids to help them avoid getting sick. WASHING HANDS Kids have a way of picking up colds and other illnesses. Parents should teach children proper hand washing techniques and how to correctly cover coughs or sneezes. Wash hands withsoap and warm water. When using soap and water: If using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer: SAFETY STEPS The most important thing parents can do is get children six months of age or oldera flu vaccine as recommended by the Centers for Disease …
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Outbreaks are earlier than normal in the area.
The Red Cross said there's still time for folks to get flu shots and be covered from what is considered to be a more active flu season. Here are some local options. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said flu outbreaks are high for this time of the season, with "widespread activity" in Massachusetts. How do you prevent the flu? According to the CDC, in addition to getting the vaccine, you can: How do you know if you have the virus? Symptoms include: high fever, severe body aches, headache, being extremely tired, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, and vomiting and/or diarrhea (which is more common in children). When should you call the doctor? According to the Red Cross, if you think you have the flu, your doctor should be …
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Columnist revels family's secrets for beating the common cold.
Cough, cough, sniff, sniff. I'm writing this column in pain from the cold, flu, infection or whatever I've had for the last month. It's the bug that came for Halloween and stayed for Thanksgiving. Yes, I've been to a doctor. "Take this medicine and you will feel better by next Tuesday," he said. It's Friday and I'm still in major coughing mode. I know I'm not alone. I hear you coughing in the coffee shop or see you dealing with a runny nose. Wait. I just had another major coughing fit. I've been to my local pharmacy where it is stocked with rows and rows of stuff to help me, us, feel better. Poppycock. Your 24-hour cough relief doesn't work. I still have a stuffed-up nose or I lose my voice every 10 minutes or so. Sorry, I just had another…
Myd Nevins
4:27 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
The flu shot has always been quick and painless for me and best of all... free. more ›