BLOOMINGTON - Cold and flu season has hit Central Illinois and it's here with a vengeance. Urgent care centers and doctor's offices are swamped, treating children and adults with documented cases of influenza and respiratory infections.

"We're hopping right now," said Dr. Marlito Favila of HealthPoint in Normal.

"There's been a definite surge in the number of influenza cases and we're starting to see complications, such as sinus infections and bronchitis," said Dr. Charles Dennis of Convenient Care at Carle Clinic in Bloomington.

By 4 p.m. Monday, HealthPoint already had treated 60 patients. Most of them had respiratory infections, such as bronchitis, sinusitis and ear infection, but four or five were documented cases of influenza, Favila said.

HealthPoint, which is part of BroMenn Healthcare, saw its first influenza case of the season about two weeks ago.

OSF St. Joseph PromptCare locations in Bloomington and Normal began seeing an upsurge in flu and respiratory infections in the past week, said Dr. Lamont Tyler, PromptCare director. PromptCare is averaging seven to 10 documented cases of influenza every day.

"We're seeing a lot more children with influenza," Tyler said. "On Saturday alone, we had 12 cases of influenza and eight were children.

"Those individuals, they feel miserable. If you have a fever, severe muscle ache and an acute onset of symptoms, you should be seen now because we know it's local now," Tyler said.

While overall influenza numbers at PromptCare are typical for early February, Tyler is seeing more children. Patients being treated are patients who did not get a flu shot, doctors said.

"Some of the families were unaware that their children could get a flu shot, so we're educating the parents," Tyler said.

It's not too late for children and adults to get a shot because influenza season will be around for several more weeks. But the vaccine won't take effect for a couple of weeks, doctors said.

For patients who see their doctor within 24 to 48 hours of the start of flu symptoms, doctors may prescribe Tamiflu, a tablet taken for five days. Tamiflu may reduce the duration and intensity of the flu and may be prescribed for family members in close contact with the person who has the flu.

A person with influenza gets sick suddenly, has a fever, headache, chills, muscle aches and fatigue, and also may have a dry cough, sore throat and nasal congestion, doctors said.

"It hits 'em like a ton of bricks," Dennis said. Without treatment, they may be sick for seven to 10 days.

A person with a cold gets sick gradually, may not have fever and muscle aches are minor, but they have congestion, a sore throat and a cough with mucus. They may be sick for less than a week.

Bed rest for several days, Tylenol or Motrin for pain and drinking a lot of fluids are among steps recommended for patients with influenza. Mucinex, an over-the-counter medicine, may be helpful to break up mucus, Dennis said.

Don't make me sick

Reduce your risk of getting influenza or a respiratory infection by:

- Washing your hands thoroughly and often;

- Drinking plenty of fluids;

- Eating healthful foods, including those with vitamin C;

- Getting enough rest;

- If you live with someone who is sick, consider wearing a surgical mask.

SOURCES: Dr. Lamont Tyler, Dr. Charles Dennis