Mid-South doctors warn of possibly severe flu season

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — You better stock up on your vitamins and orange juice.

Doctors are warning flu season is here early and is expected to be extremely severe.

Children may be especially vulnerable.

SEE MORE: Flu running rampant through schools

In October, officials with Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital said they’ve had at least 320 kids test positive for the flu. In September, they had 118.

Officials said they don’t normally see numbers this high until December or January.

Some parents FOX13 spoke with said their children’s schools are already taking a hit.

“There have been several cases of flu in her classroom,” one mother told FOX13. She said she’s taking precautions.

“We do support mask-wearing where she is comfortable, but she’s also been vaccinated as well as myself,” she said.

Dr. Sandy Arnold is an infectious disease specialist at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

She said they have already seen hundreds of kids with the flu in the emergency room.

“October is definitely not typical for us, and we are seeing a lot of influenza,” Arnold said.

Dr. Arnold said flu season in the Mid-South typically picks up in December and slows down in the spring.

The past two years, she said flu cases were lower than normal, which means more children are susceptible.

“We’re talking about missed school if we have a really bad flu season,” Dr. Arnold said. “Teachers are out, other people in the school are out.”

Dr. Steve Threlkeld is an infectious disease specialist at Baptist Memorial Hospital.

He said children are the main drivers of the flu.

While it’s less likely they will get severe complications, he said they may pass it on to someone more at risk.

“What might be a mild or moderate illness for a young adult with no medical problems can land someone in that elderly age group in the hospital,” Dr. Threlkeld said.

That’s why doctors say prevention is key.

“Getting those vaccines will keep people from dying or getting really ill from the flu. So that is always the no-brainer is to get a flu vaccine,” Dr. Threlkeld said.

With it being an early flu season, doctors say it’s best to get the flu vaccine as early as possible.

Babies over six months and children are eligible for the shot.

While it might not prevent them from getting the flu, it will help them recover quicker.

Your doctor can also prescribe medication for flu patients that may lessen symptoms.

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