The doctor: Bad idea to let sick children see their grandparents this Christmas

The number of flu cases has skyrocketed in recent times.

In just one week, the number of infections has doubled.

The greatest spread is among school children between the ages of five and fourteen.

Noticeable in healthcare

The increase is clearly noticeable in the country's hospitals, according to Jonas Ludvigsson, who himself works in the emergency room.

- The vast majority are not very ill, but many children have a high fever, body aches, headaches, poor appetite.

Some we have to put in, he says.

- We see a very high load on the emergency room now which is significantly worse than most years.

Bad idea to celebrate Christmas sick

SVT:

- It's okay to have a little runny nose and a little sore throat, but you should have been fever-free for at least a day.

Of course, you must not feel very ill, says Jonas Ludvigsson.

SVT:

- Now I may not be popular.

But it is the case that children excrete quite high amounts of virus when they have the flu.

You can continue to spread the virus for a week, maybe even ten days after you get symptoms.

- If you are sick this week, I am a little hesitant about whether to meet grandma and grandpa on Christmas Eve.

SVT:

- Grandma and grandpa are of course more sensitive to getting seriously ill with the flu.

Hear Jonas Ludvigsson talk about this year's wave of flu in the clip above.