We start in Okemos, where Dr. Dennis Perry at Meridian Primary Care is seeing an uptick in cases of gastroenteritis, a nasty stomach bug.

Symptoms are most severe during the first 24 to 48 hours.

They include: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and a low-grade fever up to 101 degrees.

To treat gastroenteritis, rest, avoid dairy products, and drink plenty of fluids. Once the vomiting stops, you can start eating a BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

Dr. Perry is also treating strep throat.

Hallmark symptoms are: sudden, severe sore throat; high fever; general malaise; swollen tonsils and lymph nodes; and sometimes white or yellow patches on the tonsils and throat.

Strep throat usually lasts three to seven days.

It should be treated with antibiotics, so see your doctor if you think you have it. Your doctor may suggest taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help with pain and lower your fever.

In Lansing, Dr. Thomas Stout at Mount Hope Community Medical Center is treating upper respiratory infections.

The hallmark symptom appears to be a dry, hacking cough that could last as long as two to three weeks in adults. You may also have nasal congestion and a sore throat.

Getting rest and drinking fluids are the best treatment. You can suck on cough drops or hard candies to make your throat feel better. You should call your doctor if your cough is severe or accompanied by a fever, or if you have asthma.

In Leslie, Dr. Jeffrey DeWeerd at Allegiance Family Medicine is seeing a rise in viral bronchitis.

Symptoms include: trouble breathing, wheezing, pain in the chest or rib cage, headache, low-grade fever, and persistent cough.

To treat it, rest, drink plenty of fluids, take over-the-counter cough medicines and pain killers, and take hot showers to relieve congestion.

Dr. Bernice Pritchett at Allegiance Family Medicine on Springport Rd. in Jackson is treating the flu.

Symptoms include: fever, headache, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

To avoid the flu, Dr. Pritchett recommends getting immunized.

Also, wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, use hand sanitizers, and avoid anyone who's sick.