Stomach virus hits more around county

Published 11:22 pm Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Add one more misery to this flu and cold season. The Everett Clinic is seeing an increase in gastrointestinal illnesses at its clinics in Snohomish County, with patients experiencing fever, vomiting and diarrhea.

Symptoms come on quickly, with fever lasting up to two days; diarrhea, two to three days; and stomach problems, up to 36 hours, said Dr. Yuan-Po Tu, who tracks viruses for the clinic.

The virus began circulating about two weeks ago. “We’re seeing more (of these) patients than normal, he said.

About one in 20 patients at the walk-in clinics each day are complaining of the symptoms, spokeswoman April Zepeda said Tuesday. The walk-in clinics treat about 500 patients a day.

Fevers in children can hit 103 degrees, Tu said, and adult temperatures can go as high as 101 degrees from the illness.

The virus is easily spread, so Tu said people should wash their hands more frequently, especially before preparing food.

Since infants can become easily dehydrated, parents should be on the lookout when their baby has sunken eyes, a dry mouth with no saliva, no tears when they cry and dry diapers, Tu said.

Seek medical attention if the child is limp or has a rash with the fever, he added.

Kids and their parents have been most affected by the virus, and it has not affected many seniors, he said.

Although Stevens Hospital in Edmonds has not seen many patients in its emergency room with the virus, nurses say they’ve heard of the virus affecting area schools, said Jack Kirkman, hospital spokesman.

Scattered schools throughout the county also are reporting that students are being sent home or are not coming to school because of the virus.

“I’m personally familiar with one little hot spot,” said Debbie Jakala, spokeswoman for the Edmonds School District.

Cedar Way Elementary School in Mountlake Terrace has had 30 to 34 kids who were absent each day out of a total enrollment of 388 students.

The illness started hitting last Thursday and continues this week. “The number of kids coming into the office feeling ill remains higher than normal,” she said.

Typically, one or two schools in the 35-square-mile district get hit harder, she said. Some schools report no problem with the virus.

Students at Mukilteo schools seem to have dodged the virus so far, said Andy Muntz, spokesman.

A similar virus causing intestinal problems hit an Island County nursing home about 10 days ago, but the illness has passed, said Dr. Roger Case, Island County’s public health officer.

Reporter Sharon Salyer : 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.