How to stay healthy this season with respiratory illnesses on the rise

With the state experiencing a steep rise in whooping cough cases, Washington State University health experts recommend members of the public protect their health and communities this holiday season through vaccination and standard precautions against infection.

Multiple respiratory illnesses have seen a resurgence to pre-pandemic levels or higher this year, including whooping cough, walking pneumonia, and other infections. This year as of Nov. 9, Washington state has reported more than 1,300 cases of whooping cough compared to last year's 54, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

COVID-19, RSV, flu, and cold-causing rhinoviruses are also circulating this fall and are expected to rise amid holiday travel and gatherings.

"These diseases can be fatal and can cause complications that require hospitalization and last for weeks or months, especially in the most vulnerable patients, so it's important to take steps to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your community healthy," said Dr. Charles Anderson, vice chair of pediatrics at Washington State University's Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

Young children, older adults, and people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to serious complications from respiratory illnesses. With emergency department visits for RSV increasing this month among young children, parents and other caregivers should be vigilant for signs that a respiratory illness is severe and requires medical attention, especially in young children who can't verbalize their distress.

A fever (100.4° F or higher) in any infant, but especially infants younger than three months, is cause to call your primary care physician, Anderson said. Signs that an infant or child is having a difficult time breathing also warrant seeking care, including rapid or noisy breathing like wheezing or grunting, blue or gray skin coloring, or strange chest movements such as the muscles or skin appearing to pull inward. Infants may also have difficulty feeding.

Health experts emphasize the importance of vaccination against respiratory illnesses to reduce the risk of infection and help prevent complications, especially for vulnerable populations.

"Many serious respiratory infections are vaccine preventable, and we should make every effort to avail our children and ourselves of these vaccines to prevent the spread of communicable illness and disability or death," Anderson said.

This year's updated COVID-19 and flu shots are recommended for everyone aged six months and older, and RSV immunization is recommended for pregnant people, infants, and older adults. The TDaP vaccine series for children and boosters for adults every 10 years protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Declining TDaP vaccination rates in children and low booster uptake among adults may be contributing to Washington's whooping cough outbreak, experts say.

In addition to vaccination, Anderson recommends common sense measures to avoid respiratory infections. These include handwashing, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, and preventing further spread when sick by staying home or masking around others.

"All of those measures combined with vaccination can really be effective in helping to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses," Anderson said.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control website for more detailed information about current immunization recommendations for seasonal and childhood diseases.

Media Contacts

• Stephanie Engle, WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Communications and Marketing, 509-368-6937, [email protected]