Growing number of Maritime children going to ER with flu symptoms

Health officials say this flu season is hitting the Maritimes harder than expected.

As flu cases climb nationwide, Maritime hospitals are seeing a troubling trend.

The IWK Health Centre in Halifax is reporting an increase in the number of children coming into the emergency department with flu-like symptoms.

Those symptoms include high fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhea and body aches.

“Influenza is definitely something we’re starting to see a lot more of over the past couple of weeks in our hospitals in Nova Scotia,” says Dr. Matthew Clarke, an emergency department physician at the Halifax Infirmary and Cobequid sites.

“As an emergency department physician, I’m seeing, anecdotally, a lot more cases of people presenting with suspected influenza and confirmed influenza, and also our data supporting that as well, that we’re starting to see an earlier surge in influenza illnesses than we would typically see during flu season.

“We can expect that to continue. We expect, as in many years, this will put significant strain on the health care system, but also on our patients in general.”

Health officials are urging people to get their flu vaccine as a precaution against the illness.

Clarke says the influenza vaccine prevents 30-to-40 per cent of hospitalizations.

“Even if you don’t need a hospitalization or an emergency visit for influenza, it’s a really uncomfortable illness…and this year’s strain is notorious for making people a lot more unwell. So doing everything you can to prevent getting Influenza, getting vaccinated, I think are just so important,” he says.

Some pharmacies in the region are seeing an uptick in the number of flu shots administered compared to last year.

“Our clinics have been full all year, and we’ve actually seen more flu shots given at our stores than we have in the past,” says Dennis Abud, owner of Jean Coutu Pharmacy in Dieppe, N.B.

“We did see a little spike (in flu cases) before Christmas here in our area, which we saw turn into people calling for bookings for flu shots.”

Abud calls it a good sign people are getting ahead of the surging illness, which can especially impact those with pre-existing conditions.

“I think some people, unfortunately, are maybe vaccined-out because of COVID. It’s important to get back on the vaccine train. It’s our most important weapon to prevent the spread of the virus,” he says.

“It’s not just you that you’re protecting. It’s people around you. You might be healthy and vibrant. But your grandmother, grandfather or somebody who’s going through chemotherapy, where their immune system is lower, they need you to be protected, as well as themselves.”

Officials say families can also protect themselves by maintaining proper hand hygiene, staying home when sick and wearing a mask.

Though most cases of the flu can be managed at home, the IWK recommends a trip to the emergency department if symptoms become more serious.