CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- A lot of kids are sick, and parents are frantically searching for medicines to treat their kids' symptoms.

"We've had probably about 10 percent of the kids, at least, regularly being out for sickness," said Gemma Furman, a nurse at Greenbrier Elementary School.

Furman said the number of illnesses picked up about two weeks before Thanksgiving and it's only increasing. Most cases are flu, RSV and COVID.

"Lots of sore throats, fevers, coughs, headaches," said Furman. "What you'd expect."

She said that parents are being more proactive in getting treatment for their kids this year.

"So parents aren't necessarily waiting as long to get their kids checked out, and people are understanding that sometimes it's difficult to keep your children out of school," Furman added. "We're seeing that parents are responding to that request."

But they are having problems helping their kids feel better. Pediatrician Paige Perriello said parents are searching multiple stores for liquid fever-reducing medications like Advil and Tylenol. She says such medicines help treat aches, pain and fevers so that children can eat, drink and recover.

Her office only has a supply to treat sick kids during their visit, but patients need the medication for multiple days, and it's adding an unnecessary stressor to an already hard year.

"It just continues to be such a difficult time for families with day-care-aged and school-aged children. We really haven't just had a break at all in the last three years and families are really tired," Perriello said.

She said she thinks that stress-induced bulk buying may be one reason for the problem, so she's asking parents to buy only what they need and to spread the word if they find a supply.

However, her most important message is to get a flu shot.

The Virginia Department of Health announced the first reported pediatric flu death of this season on Wednesday. The child died of flu complications in southwest Virginia.

Representative Abigail Spanberger joined fellow members of Congress to call on President Joe Biden to declare a pediatric health emergency. They say hospitals in Virginia are overwhelmed.