"I'm gonna go up one side and then the other." A swab test demonstration. It determines if a person with flu-like symptoms actually has a strain of influenza. "We send this down to the lab. Within about 30 minutes we get results back," says Nurse Theresa George. Saint Joseph's/ Candler's ER is not jammed with flu- like illnesses, but they've seen an uptick. People are worried about Swine Flu. "It's put a little scare into everybody making them more aware of their signs and symptoms, and we get a lot of calls regarding it," says Theresa. Doctor Heather Simon's orders for adults: don't cram the e-r if you have flu-like symptoms...see your primary physician. 'If a parent has a child age 5 or under who seem to be demonstrating flu-like symptoms should initially contact their pediatrician," according to Dr. Simon. She says there are times when a trip to the emergency room is important such as difficulty breathing , a child with a high fever, and constant vomiting. "Where you cannot stop and you feel you're getting dehydrated. If you're having unusual chest pains or abdominal pains," says Dr. Simon. Doctors say most healthy people with a viral flu do fine. The primary focus people with health conditions. But in this e-r they're always at the ready. "Anyone comes in with the flu or cold or symptoms of such we're wearing a mask. We're protecting the patient as well. We also put mask on any other patients in close vicinity of them." Officials at Saint Joseph's/Candler say in the last 3 weeks have averaged 80 tests on patients with flu- like symptoms. That's 20 cases more per week since May, June, and July. Memorial health officials say they've seen more flu cases than at normal this time of year.
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