The flu finally hit us here in Houston, and it looks like a nasty bug this year. High fever, hacking cough, and vomiting, along with the typical body aches and general feeling of misery.

I have been testing patients who have flu-like symptoms every week to see when it was going to hit, and haven't had a single case all season....until tonight when I have seen 4 cases of confirmed influenza.

If you have these symptoms, there are medications that can help, but you should be seen by a doctor promptly, within 2 days of the onset of the fever. And if you are exposed to someone with a confirmed case, there are medications that can prevent you from catching the illness too. And if you haven't gotten your flu shot, now is the time.

This is going to be a bad flu season, I predict, so try to do what you can to prevent getting it.