December 29, 2005
Thomasville, Georgia-- Many South Georgians are laid up with a severe respiratory infection that's hitting people ahead of flu season.
Carla Beasley has been sick since Friday. She has the infection that doctors at Archbold Hospital in Thomasville have been noticing more of ahead of peak flu season. "As the week progressed I became more and more congested, headache, my sore throat became more and more severe," says Beasley.
Other symptoms include fever and coughing. Doctor Shane Herrin, who's treating Beasley, says anyone can get the virus. "People cough. The germs are aerosolized. You can inhale it," says Herrin.
There are things you can do to help prevent getting sick, such as washing your hands, using disinfectant, and of course, hand sanitizer. But, if you do get the virus, and catch it early, doctors can treat it symptomatically. "A decongestant, cough medicine, rest, and fluids," says Herrin.
Worst case scenario, doctors will use antibiotics. Fortunately, Beasley's virus was caught early. "I want to be able to taste something. I can't taste a thing," she says. She'll be able to long before the five week recovery time for patients who's virus festered.
Doctors say the same precautions, such as hand washing and disinfectant, can be used when flu season hits in January.
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