We start this week with Dr. Earl Reisdorff at the Ingham Regional Medical Center Emergency Department on Greenlawn Ave. in Lansing. He's reporting that influenza is what's going around there. Symptoms include those of a terribly bad cold, intense headache and body aches all over...and a cough and fever and some nausea. Treatments include taking an anti-viral drug therapy, drinking lots of fluids and rest. he says you can also take Tylenol for aches and pains and get a flu vaccination.

Dr. Reisdorff is also reporting cases of bronchitis. Symptoms include cough, fever, thick phlegm that's clear, yellow or green in color and fatigue, body aches and headache. Treatments for at-risk groups should be discussed with their doctor.

Dr Fred Bean at the Meridian Family Practice on Jolly Road in Okemos says Winter Itch is what's going around there. It's a skin problem that gets worse in the winter when humidity is low. Symptoms include itching, repeated rubbing and scratching, skin fissures, and cracks and even bleeding in some patients.

Treatments include making your shower time shorter at no more than 10 minutes each 24-hour period, increase the humidity in the house, use moisturizer and see your doctor if you experience cracking and bleeding.

Dr. Hugh Brainard at Ingham Internal Medicine and Pediatrics on Millennium Dr. in West Lansing. He's reporting that he's seeing cases of Rhinitis or the common cold. Symptoms include a runny nose and a low-grade fever which lasts about a week...runny nose up to two weeks.

Treatments include increasing fluids, using a non-aspirin pain reliever, and infants can use a nasal spray or drops before feeding.