Here’s our weekly round-up of what illnesses are spreading the most in Metro Detroit communities, according to our local doctors and hospitals.
WAYNE COUNTY – Hand foot & mouth disease, sunburns, infected bug bites, asthma flare-ups, summer rashes, heat exhaustion, breathing problems.
Dr. Ali J. Bazzi -- Pediatrician, Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital
“From an infectious standpoint, we have been seeing more hand, foot, and mouth. This is a virus that is highly contagious. If your child has it, they can return to childcare and other activities after the lesions have crusted over. We have also been seeing significant sunburns and infected mosquito/spider bites. Make sure your child above six months is wearing and reapplying sunscreen with SPF 15 to 30 when having fun in the sun. All children above two months should be wearing bug spray outdoors.”
Avi Amirsadri, NP -- Emergency Medicine Director, DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital
“The heat is bringing a lot of people in for COPD and asthma. I’m sure the smoke from the Canadian wildfires contributes to it, but usually summertime we see an uptick in COPD and asthma. We’re also seeing patients suffering from heat exhaustion. We give them fluids and cool them down. The best prevention is using sunscreen, staying out of the sun and staying hydrated, especially with drinks containing electrolytes.”
Dr. Kevin Daizy -- Pediatrician, Children’s Hospital of Michigan
“We’re seeing a lot of asthma, especially with the weather changes and humidity. We’re also seeing summer rashes and lots of bug bites. Don’t forget sunscreen, and please make sure to practice water safety. Have a monitor dedicated to watching children swim, without distractions like a phone or talking to another person.”
OAKLAND COUNTY— Summer allergies, bug bites, rashes, poison ivy, heat-related issues, dehydration.
Dr. Jim Getzinger -- Emergency Center Physician, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak
“There seems to be some random viral infection hitting children and adults but registering negative for the common infections we test for, including influenza, COVID and RSV. Fortunately, symptoms, which include fever, congestion, sore throat, and sometimes a cough, are generally mild and contained with supportive care. Allergy season continues in full effect. Also, from a seasonal perspective, we are seeing a lot of bug bites, rashes, and poison ivy.”
Dr. Adam Vieder -- Emergency Medicine Physician, Corewell Health Farmington Hills Hospital
“Currently, in the emergency department there is not necessarily one specific illness going around now. Allergy symptoms, which can often mimic infectious symptoms, are still ever present even with the pollen tapering. Symptomatic management with over-the-counter medications can be a big benefit for a speedier recovery whether allergic or viral in nature. Heat-related issues are always something to be on the lookout for as we get further into summer. Increased hydration, seeking shade whenever able, and limiting the amount of continuous time spent in the sun are easy ways to combat dehydration and other more serious heat-related illnesses during the summer months.”
WASHTENAW COUNTY – Croup, respiratory viruses, hand foot & mouth disease, stomach viruses, outdoor injuries.
Dr. Stuart Bradin -- Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Michigan Medicine
“We are seeing croup, other respiratory illnesses like human rhino enterovirus, parainfluenza, and adenovirus. We have also seen hand foot mouth disease, some GI illness with predominant pain, vomiting, asthma, and plenty of orthopedic injuries.”
MONROE COUNTY – did not report this week.
MACOMB COUNTY – Outdoor injuries, stomach viruses, summer allergies, asthma flare-ups, viral coughs, pneumonia, poison ivy.
Dr. Anthony Joslin -- Emergency Physician at McLaren Macomb
“Traumatic injuries, including broken bones and lacerations, continue to be the most common reason patients are seeking care in the emergency department, a trend that increased recently. There has been a slight but notable increase in patients being treated for a viral infection causing gastroenteritis with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Environmental conditions continue to cause allergy complications, especially those with asthma, with severe cases leading to breathing complications.”
Dr. Maria Samuel -- Primary Care Physician, Henry Ford Medical Center Sterling Heights
“Severe viral cough, pneumonia, and poison ivy are some of the things we’ve seen going around.”