Doctors at Mankato Clinic at Wickersham Mankato talk up this year's mild flu season to immunizations that are right on target fighting off the right viruses and preventing a significant outbreak.
Family Practice Doctor, Richard Peller says, "Real high fever, terrible body aches, shortness of breath, sometimes dehydration because of decrease of appetite. I've seen a lot less of that this year probably then any of 15 or 16 years I've been here."
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, there are over 100 different viruses that cause the common cold, not as many cause the flu. And even with our mild winter this year, the weather really has nothing to do with the flu.
Peller says, "Not as much based on the weather at least as far as good and bad years, as it's just which flu bug is coming around and how well we have immunized and how well our bodies handle those viruses."
Dr. Peller adds that people can also suffer from mold and dust allergies, especially in the winter. But there has been no sign of spring allergy symptoms.
Dr. Peller says, "I haven't seen a lot more allergy symptoms so far its been warm but not quite that warm where we are getting that spring or early spring allergy symptoms."
Although flu symptoms may have nothing to do with what the weather is like, Dr. Peller says your body uses more energy to keep warm, and if you're tired, run down or stressed, it can be easier to catch an infection.
