Here’s our weekly round-up of what illnesses are spreading the most in Metro Detroit communities, according to our local doctors and hospitals.
WAYNE COUNTY – Influenza, bronchitis, RSV, COVID, strep throat, slip & fall injuries
Dr. Tiffney Widner -- Pediatrician, Children’s Hospital of Michigan
“We’re seeing Flu A, rhinovirus and RSV. The cold weather is causing everybody to have flares of asthma and allergy symptoms as well. Limiting exposure to the cold weather and layering appropriately when outside would help reduce this. Treatment is antihistamine and/or intranasal steroid (ie Flonase), nasacort for the allergies and albuterol through an inhaler or nebulizer for the asthma. If they need treatment for asthma more frequently than every four hours, they need to be evaluated in the Emergency Department.”
Dr. Christopher Loewe -- Emergency Department, Henry Ford St. John Hospital
“Many children are testing positive for influenza A (flu), along with bronchitis. Cases of postviral pneumonia and some COVID and strep throat are also going around.”
Sannid Saleh -- Administrative Director of Emergency at DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital and DMC Harper University Hospital, Detroit
“We’re seeing a few frostbite patients. What we’re seeing more of is people being found unresponsive – your body slows down when you are overcome by the cold. The DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital’s Burn Center, one of three in the state, is seeing people transferred from other hospitals with burns from trying to stay warm: gas fires, building fires. People need to seek shelter at warming centers and avoid potentially dangerous ways of creating heat.”
Dr. Jennifer Stevenson -- Emergency Department, Henry Ford Medical Center Fairlane
“We continue to see a lot of influenza A (flu) which is making people feel pretty bad! There seems to be more cases of COVID, suspected norovirus, and some strep throat. As for cold-related injuries, we’re seeing the greatest impact on our homeless population. “
Dr. Jon Lovy -- Internal Medicine Physician, Corewell Health Trenton Hospital
“We have seen sporadic cases of mild hypothermia, particularly involving individuals experiencing homelessness. However, we have seen a significant spike in influenza cases, potentially related to people huddling together to stay warm.”
Dr. Zafar Shamoon -- Emergency Center Chief, Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital
“We haven’t seen anything yet this morning at Dearborn. But there was a bad case of frostbite a couple days ago at our Taylor location. I suspect we may see one or two more frostbite cases by the end of the day.”
Dr. Glen Clark -- Emergency Center Chief, Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital
“Both today and yesterday, there have been a couple of slip and fall cases resulting in injuries. Yesterday, we had one severely hypothermic patient whose home had no heat.”
Dr. Kristopher Richardson -- Emergency Center Physician, Corewell Health Taylor Hospital
“Unfortunately, we have seen a few frost nip and frostbite injuries. Influenza A and RSV are still going around as well.”
OAKLAND COUNTY – Influenza, respiratory viruses, stomach viruses, slip & fall injuries, whooping cough, pneumonia
Dr. Robert Wahl -- Vice Chief, Emergency Medicine, DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, Commerce Township
“We’re lucky in our area that people have the resources to deal with the cold, so we’re not seeing frostbite and hypothermia patients. What we are seeing quite a few of is slip-and-fall injuries. The ice is a bit of a problem. We’re seeing mostly broken wrists and a broken hip. We haven’t seen severe, weather-related car accidents, just bumps and bruises. We are also seeing the mix of respiratory issues, as well as viral diarrhea/vomiting illness. And we’re seeing this mystery illness – we saw it in the Fall, around October, and it has popped up again – where otherwise healthy adults are reporting crippling fatigue, like feeling as though they cannot get out of bed and walk.”
Dr. Rena Daiza -- Primary Care Physician, Henry Ford Medical Center Bloomfield Twp.
“We are seeing a lot of dry and cracking skin. Itching can lead to infections from bacteria. Dry weather can also cause nosebleeds. To prevent this, stay hydrated, apply generous amounts of lotion, and use a humidifier to maintain moisture in the air.”
Dr. Rachel M. Klamo -- Primary Care Physician, Henry Ford Glennan Primary Care
“There are many cases of pertussis (whooping cough) popping up. Adult community acquired pneumonia and adenovirus infections are also circulating.”
Dr. Sanford Vieder -- Emergency Center Chief, Corewell Health Farmington Hills Hospital
“So far, I have only had one hypothermic patient in the last 24 hours. We are, however, seeing a significant surge in Influenza A.”
Dr. Jim Getzinger -- Emergency Center Physician, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital
“No overt frostbite. Several slips and falls on ice and icy road condition accidents. Bundle up and stay inside if at all possible.”
Dr. David Donaldson -- Emergency Center Chief, Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital
“We are seeing some slip and fall accidents but have seen no cases of frostbite or hypothermia.”
Emergency Department, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital
“We’re seeing general pain, stroke symptoms, and respiratory issues.”
WASHTENAW COUNTY – Influenza, breathing problems, COVID, respiratory viruses, stomach viruses, slip & fall injuries
Dr. Brad Uren -- Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Michigan Medicine
“We continue to see an increase in flu activity. COVID is still present as are other respiratory viruses. Not as much GI activity this week. Some of the patients with flu that require emergency department care have comorbidities such as asthma or COPD causing them more significant breathing difficulties. Although some have required admission, most of the URI patients discharged. We have seen slips and falls due to sudden icing that occurred in the last few days. No significant cold weather injury visits are occurring currently.”
MONROE COUNTY – Influenza, COVID, RSV, cold exposure
ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital – Emergency Center
“We are continuing to see high numbers of Influenza A, COVID-19, and RSV cases, particularly among school-age children, younger patients, and older adults. The older adult population is being hospitalized more frequently, with some requiring intubation due to complications from these illnesses. We advise washing your hands thoroughly and often. Stay home if you are sick and if you need to leave your house and have symptoms, wear a mask. Additionally, we’ve noticed an increase in patients seeking care for cold exposure, and we expect this trend to rise as temperatures continue to drop.”
MACOMB COUNTY – Influenza, COVID, sinus infections, bronchitis, RSV, slip & fall injuries
Dr. Ali Saad -- Emergency Physician at McLaren Macomb
“Already on the rise, patients testing positive for influenza continues to trend upward, presenting with symptoms of fever, body aches, cough and congestion. Slight fever, cough, and congestion are the most common symptoms reported in the emergency department, with some patients testing positive for COVID-19 and RSV. A viral infection, patients have been treated for gastroenteritis with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Wet and icy wintery conditions have led to an uptick in orthopedic and soft tissue injuries sustained in a slip and fall.”
Dr. Maria Samuel -- Primary Care Physician, Henry Ford Medical Center Sterling Heights
“We’re seeing COVID, flu, sinusitis and bronchitis.”
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – Influenza, Norovirus, RSV, COVID
Trinity Health Livingston Emergency Department & Brighton Medical Center“We continue to see a high influx of Influenza A, Norovirus, RSV and COVID. Our message to people is to use good and frequent handwashing/sanitizer technique.”