CENTRAL FLORIDA — It seems everyone around town is sick lately. CentraCare doctors say the number of cases of strep throat has increased 50 percent in two weeks, and that's not the only illness spreading.
Tamara Eberwien does what she can to keep her toddler from getting sick.
"Around kids that we know are sick, we just avoid them," she said.
But even that might not work. Doctors at CentraCare facilities in Central Florida saw 130 cases of strep throat just last week; that's twice as much as the regular weekly number of 50 to 80 cases.
That's not the only thing going around; cases of flu, bronchitis and sinus infections are all on the rise.
So what's the reason?
"This is the time of year when we see clusterings of infections like this," explained CentraCare Medical Director Dr. Tim Hendrix.
Hendrix says this strain of strep isn't unusually aggressive, but it does have a 20 percent risk of transmission, and half of the cases he's seen are in adults.
It's widespread, too.
The highest number of strep throat cases came from CentraCare centers in Winter Garden, Sanford, Lake Buena Vista, and Waterford Lakes.
There is a simple way to test for strep throat. A rapid test is found in every doctor's office and can tell you in five minutes if you have strep. It costs around $50 and is covered by most insurance.
Dr. Hendrix says some patients choose to let it run its course. If that's you, be prepared for some misery.
"If you have a sore throat, if you have a fever or pain swallowing, there's a good chance it's strep, 'cause that's what we're seeing out in the community," he said.
Typically, children between the ages of 5 and 15 get strep throat, although anyone can come down with the illness.
WFTV
