COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As colder temperatures move into Mid-Missouri, health experts typically expect an increase in seasonal illnesses. But so far, influenza activity across the region remains low. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported "low" influenza activity across the state from the week of Nov 16-22. The weekly total number of cases reported was 348. During that same week, DHSS reported 16 flu cases in Boone County, while four cases were reported in Cole County. Cooper County had no confirmed cases during that period. So far this flu season, Missouri has seen a season-to-date total of 1,376 cases, DHSS reports. While influenza cases remain low, Mid-Missouri health clinics are seeing patients come in for other illnesses. Dr. Mariah Allen, a pediatrician with the Jefferson City Medical Group, said she is seeing children come in for several illnesses, but mainly viral infections. "Most of the time it goes viral, like those colds where it's just stuffy, runny nose, cough, kind of just not feeling good," Allen said. "Sometimes it's seasonal, so I see or a little bit more clingy but it mostly is the viral illnesses," Overall, the top three illnesses Allen says she is seeing in children are upper respiratory infections, ear infections and step throat. "We've been seeing pretty mild cases," Allen said. We do have a few cases where they're a little bit more severe, but it tends to happen in some of the kids that are either very young like the babies or in kids who have predisposing factors like asthma," For influenza, Allen says she has seen one to two cases in children, while COVID-19 cases also remain low among children. MU Health Care Physician Assistant Kate Dietz is also mostly seeing viral infections, with are common this type of year. But she is seeing an increase of the croup virus in children. "We're seeing a lot of common cold sort of thing. Viral upper respiratory symptoms. As far as kids, we're seeing a lot of croup recently and just a little bit of the flu," Dietz said. "We've had some people that are having the flu like illness, but the flu tests have been negative. But still, same sort of symptoms." Dietz says croup is a viral illness similar to a cold but with a recognizable cough. "Croup is viral illness kind of like a cold as a viral illness and a lot of kids will get fever and a little bit of runny nose, but then they have a barky cough. It sounds like it's very distinct sounding. It sounds like a seal. Barking a lot of times gets worse overnight." Dietz said. The majority of children coming into exam rooms with croup are younger than 4 years old, Dietz said. The age group coming in with upper respiratory illness Dietz said varies from young adults to the elderly. As far as COVID-19, Dietz said there has not been an increase but she has seen a case or two. While many families gathered for the Thanksgiving holiday, Dietz said she wouldn’t consider the number of sick patients an “uptick,” noting that several factors including changing weather and increased holiday gatherings, naturally contribute to more people coming in sick. If you are feeling sick Dietz and Allen recommend staying home, washing your hands, wear a mask and stay away from people that are vulnerable. The post Flu cases remain low in Mid-Missouri, area physicians see other viral infections in children appeared first on ABC17NEWS. ...read more read less