SICK BOMB: A triple whammy of viruses is striking down Gold Coasters Source: GoldCoastBulletin
GOLD Coasters are being hit by a triple whammy of viruses for which doctors have no answers.
Local GPs, being inundated by patients suffering a combination of vomiting, diarrhoea and flu are trying not to prescribe antibiotics to avoid building up resistance to the drugs.
As a result, many patients are being sent home with just electrolyte supplements and being told to go to bed to rest.
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Southport Park Medical Centre general practitioner Maria Coliat said treating the unusual combination of illnesses with antibiotics often just aggravated the symptoms.
“Most of them really just need supportive treatments, so take Nurofen, and then there is really nothing much else that we can give them,” she said.
“I am now actually seeing patients that on top of the respiratory symptoms, they actually have vomiting and diarrhoea which means additionally we have to keep them hydrated.
“If you are just having respiratory symptoms, then you are still able to eat, even if your appetite is off, but of course when you are having a gastro interaction and the vomiting, the stations are already having to compromise.
“In those cases, if antibiotics are indicated you could be giving them more harm as they might even aggravate the diarrhoea.”
The Gold Coast Health Service has recorded 423 cases of influenza in the past five weeks and cases are still increasing.
“In the first week of the five week recordings we had 34 influenza notifications in the week,” a Gold Coast Health Service spokesman said.
“In the fifth week there has been 153 influenza notifications.”
Based on a Queensland Government report, the Gold Coast has recorded 582 more influenza cases than in August last year when there were 117 cases.
Dr Coliat said this year was one of the most unusual and worst seasons.
“Now, when a patient comes in I have to say which one is it, respiratory or gastro?” she said.
“Last year it was either one or the other and now it is both.
“I have to agree that it is one of the worst years.”
With the sick season still going doctors are now on the alert for spring allergies.
“As we get into spring, hay fever becomes a problem but sometimes people actually have respiratory infection symptoms,” Dr Coliat said.
“Hopefully we have a more usual spring sickness season though.”
Originally published as Virus triple whammy hits Gold Coast