Hospitals Try To Cope With Influx of Cold, Flu Patients

When Lane Travis woke up Wednesday morning, she knew that she lost her battle with the flu. She had to go to Rex Hospital to get treatment.

"My daughter had it first and the 'Mommy, hold me' phase took me under," she says. "I think laying in bed this morning, I knew that it had won the best of me, and this was one time that I needed professional help."

Doctors at Rex Hospital are treating their share of flu patients these days. The winter bug is putting a strain on an already-busy emergency room.

"We currently have a lot of patients that we see for other various complaints, chest pains, abdominal pains, etc. so it puts a little bit of a burden on all of the emergency room departments," says Dr. Brian Quigley.

Quigley says you can treat yourself at home with over-the-counter medications and plenty of fluids. If you suspect that you have the flu, you should call your primary physician first or go to a walk-in clinic.