Feeling like you can’t shake that stubborn cold? Or maybe you felt better for a few days only to get sick again.

A respiratory virus that hit Central Oregon this winter appears to have made people sick for longer periods of time this year.

”What we’ve been seeing is primarily a bad upper respiratory infection,” said Dr. Jim Stone, medical director for Mountain Medical Group in Bend.

Those affected experience many of the typical symptoms of a respiratory infection: congested head and chest, a persistent cough, possibly a low-grade fever, fatigue and body aches.

Although the symptoms are not any more severe than what Stone said his clinic typically sees during the winter, this year’s virus has lasted longer and it has come back on people after a few days of feeling well.

”It was worse for the people who had it because it hung on so long,” he said.

While most viruses run their course in one to two weeks, this one has hung around for as long as five to six weeks, Stone said. People thinking they are better have returned to their daily activities, exposing more people.

The good news is Central Oregon appears to be at the tail end of the virus.

”We have seen a slowdown,” Stone said. ”With any luck we’ll be into summer soon and people will be feeling great except for their allergies.”

And so far, no cases of influenza have been reported for the tri-county region during the 2002-2003 flu season. This week’s report from the Oregon State Public Health Lab, which tracks influenza across the state, shows that 15 cultures from Central Oregon have been tested for influenza, but all tested negative.

The bad news is the end of the cold and flu season comes at the start of the region’s juniper tree allergy season, in which the trees release a wind-carried pollen. Some people may go from an upper respiratory infection to an allergy without much of a break between, as the wind has begun to carry heavy juniper pollen across the region.

Bend allergist Dr. David Coutin said he started taking pollen counts this week. Although the winter seemed mild, the pollen season arrived relatively late this year because nights remained cold.

Allergy sufferers are starting to take notice as temperatures rise, experiencing symptoms such as itchy eyes and throats, wheezing, runny noses and chest tightness.

”Our office has gone into high gear,” said Coutin of Allergy Asthma Associates of Bend. ”Definitely I believe all the allergists are taking more phone calls.”

Dr. Kevin Kral, a Bend allergist in his own practice, said he expects the juniper allergy season to reach its peak in a few weeks.

But he said it’s too hard to predict how bad of an allergy season it will be this year. The juniper season typically lasts from mid-March to early May, he said.

”We haven’t had a truly bad season in the last two or three years,” he said. ”I don’t know if it means we’re due for one or not.

Coutin added he has noticed a lot of viral upper respiratory infections this year. And people prone to allergies tend to get more frequent and more severe upper respiratory infections.

And if the respiratory infections or allergies aren’t enough to knock someone down, there’s a third reason so many people seem to be sick around Central Oregon, Kral said.

”One of the biggest misconceptions is the only two choices are colds or allergies,” Kral said.

Many people, including Kral, get hit this time of year with a little-known condition called vasomotor rhinitis, he said. The condition is caused by the change in weather or barometric pressure, Kral said. People sensitive to the change of the season experience stuffy noses, pressure headaches and nose drainage in the mornings.

”This is a bad time for those of us with sensitive noses,” Kral said.

With these ailments, what’s the best bet for relief?

Stone advises patients who have suffered from upper respiratory viruses to get plenty of rest, keep hydrated and stay out of environments that could precipitate a cough.

Because the sickness that has hit Central Oregon is a virus, antibiotics can’t treat it, although some prescription medicines may help ease symptoms. If symptoms worsen, check with a doctor, because patients could develop a bacterial infection that needs to be treated.

As for allergies, Coutin advises people to think prevention. Cleaning the home of dust and pet hair can ease symptoms. Be aware the heavy juniper pollen can also get into cars and into air conditioning systems, he added.

In addition, people with a history of allergies could begin treatments such as using anti-inflammatory nasal sprays before their symptoms get serious. Some non-sedating allergy antihistamines are available over the counter. But people who need nasal sprays or shots for their symptoms still need to see a doctor.

Kral advises allergy sufferers to be careful how much time they spend outdoors when the temperature rises to about 60 degrees. He also recommends steroid nose sprays and antihistamines. With more available over the counter, however, people need to be careful to read the warning labels.

And if nothing seems to help, Kral suggests people take a break from juniper country.

”My favorite advice to people is to go on vacation,” he said.

Rebecca Merritt can be reached at 541-383-0348 or at rmerritt@bendbulletin.com.