Jan Johnson is a registered nurse and the Infectious Control Coordinator at  Avera Sacred Heart Hosptial in Yankton. She tells KSFY they have had a lot of people come in to the emergency department who think they have influenza but are testing negative. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky.

Yankton has seen an even number cases of Influenza A and B across the age spectrum. As well as gastrointestinal infections which is often times referred to as the stomach flu but should not be confused with the real flu.

Jan Johnson says, "Influenza is more of a respiratory infection. You have aching, usually a pretty good fever and you are usually so lethargic you an hardly get out of bed."

Johnson says with GI infections you will have nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and it will last 2 to 3 days. Influenza can last 3 fatigue filled weeks. They've also had more middle aged people admitted to the hospital because they are dehydrated from the flu.

Johnson says, "When you have a fever you are losing fluids. You know when you have the flu you just don't feel like eating. It's really hard. We always say get plenty of fluids but that's easier said than done because you just want to go to bed but it's essential to get fluids in you. When you are dehydrated everything gets worse. Your headache is worse, your aches are worse and your fever stays longer."

Avera Sacred Heart Hospital has also treated a lot of children for RSV which is normal for this time of year and they've seen people worried about pneumonia because their barking cough just won't go away. Johnson says if you've had the flu and your acute symptoms go away and then you relapse (meaning you get a fever again and a deep cough comes back) you says you should get in to the doctor right away because pneumonia could be a possibility.