Cough-Cold and Flu

In the United States, colds account for more visits to the doctor than any other condition, according to the American Lung Association. The common culprit behind spreading rhinovirus, the virus behind as many as 40% of all colds, is children — pediatric patients on average suffer from the symptoms of a cold between six and eight times each year. And given how highly contagious many colds are, that may explain why many adults get sick, too.

ATLANTA  — The flu is continuing to impact the United States, especially across the Southeast U.S. for the week ended Jan. 21 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday.

The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness was 3.4%, well above the national baseline of 2.2% and an increase from the week prior ILI report of 3.2%.

DEERFIELD, Ill.  — The Walgreens Flu Index for the week of Jan. 22 is picking up on significant rising incidence throughout the Lone Star State — the three markets with the greatest amount of flu incidence gains in the past week are all in Texas.

According to the Texas Influenza Surveillance Report, for the week ending Jan. 14, the percentage of doctor and hospital visits for influenza-like illnesses appoached 6%.  

For the week of Jan. 22, the top 10 markets as measured by flu activity were:

ATLANTA  — After a one-week decline in incidence, influenza activity climbed back to 3.3%, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday, where 3.3% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network were due to influenza-like illness. The increase in the percentage of patient visits for ILI may be influenced in part by a reduction in routine healthcare visits during the holidays, the CDC suggested, as has occurred in previous seasons.

This percentage is above the national baseline of 2.2%.

WASHINGTON  — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Thursday released the results of a recent poll of registered voters in Michigan showing they are strongly opposed to legislation that would require a prescription for over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine.

DEERFIELD, Ill.  — The Walgreens Flu Index is tracking a significant uptick in influenza across the Lone Star state, according to the company's weekly report.

The top 10 markets as measured by flu activity for the week of Jan. 15 are:

TORONTO — Datapult on Wednesday launched the Achu app on both Google Play and iTunes platforms to be used in conjunction with a Fitbit in monitoring a person's health through cold and flu season.

ATLANTA  — Has the 2016-2017 influenza season already peaked?

A little more five weeks into the season, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday reported the national weighted average of patient visits for influenza-like illness for the week ended Jan. 7 dropped slightly from 3.3% to 3.2%. For the last 15 seasons, the average duration of a flu season has been 13 weeks, the CDC reported.