A bad combination: It's a tripledemic. And it's early. 

It's one thing to know and understand that flu-symptom season is off to an early start. But I recommend we all take note of the following graph from the CDC about how different this season is from years prior. The yearly influenza-like illness (ILI) graph below potently illustrates the trajectory of flu-like symptoms currently permeating the U.S. healthcare system. 

Here are some finer points we should all pay attention to:

1.   Note the usual pattern of reported flu-like symptoms peaking sharply in the final two weeks of the calendar year. Contrast that with the currently growing peak that began at the
end of October (black trend line with red triangles). In 2022 we are two full months ahead of the usual pattern! 

2.   Note the pink trend line that represents the COVID-19 pandemic 2020–21 season. During the pandemic, there simply wasn't any significant influenza season. The orange trend line represents the 2021–22 season, which held the more typical pattern of peaking in late December / early January, and was a relatively mild season.

3. The current season's ILI trend line is not only starting early, but rising rapidly. The rapid increase in respiratory illness is already causing a strain on the U.S. health system, particularly for pediatric hospitals. 

This year, the "flu season" appears to be a "tripledemic" of influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and is starting several weeks earlier than usual. Over the last 30 years, the peak of hospitalization from influenza has varied from early December (in 2003) to late February (in 2017). We appear now to be on track to the earliest peak of respiratory illnesses in more than 30 years! 

It is also interesting to note that when a flu season starts earlier it tends to be more severe. This season it is more important than ever to encourage our patients to get the flu shot as soon as possible (and also an updated COVID-19 booster).