Flu season is officially underway: Here's what you need to know

ATLANTA — Runny noses, achy joints, fevers and more -- flu season is officially here.

Doctors and nurses in the emergency room at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are gearing up to see more patients with the flu as the season ramps up.

“(We’ll see) an increase in infections in the next couple weeks,” Dr. Andi Shane said.

Doctors at CHOA say flu season usually starts to peak in metro Atlanta right after the holidays in January, when all the kids go back to school.

Shane said she’s looking at data and feels confident in this year’s vaccine.

“We can look to the southern hemisphere because they have had their flu season or are finishing up their flu season. We do see is that is probably is a good match for this year,” Shane said.

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If you do get sick, Shane says many kids will be uncomfortable but OK at home. But there are some danger signs indicating when to take a child to the doctor or ER.

Shane says you should go to the doctor if your child has chest pain, labored breathing, neck stiffness or dehydration.

“If the child is not taking in or drinking, that’s the thing we get very concerned about,” she said.

To stay healthy she says keep everybody's hands clean and get the flu shot.

Even if the vaccine doesn't perfectly match the strains that show up here, it can help.

“What we have now shows is it may actually prevent people from a more severe flu infection,” she said.

On Thursday, the Georgia Department of Public Health issued a plea to people to get a flu shot.

“We’re seeing influenza activity throughout the state,” Audrey Kunkes said.

The department says activity is currently low, but maps show it’s spreading. Health officials are hoping more college students will get flu shots this year, even if they think they don’t need one.

Officials say you should go ahead and get the shot now because it takes about two weeks to kick in.

Cox Media Group