PHOENIX — Doctors are reporting an alarming number of flu and whooping cough cases on the rise across Arizona and the nation in recent weeks, but there are things you can do to protect yourself and the most vulnerable people in your life.
“This past season we have seen an increased number of cases compared to previous seasons,” said Dr. Joel Terriquez, medical director for the Arizona Department of Health Services' Bureau of Infectious Disease. “Right now we’re up to 591 cases, that are either probable or confirmed in the state… if we compare to last year, we were at 344.”
Terriquez says there’s a reason we’re seeing a significant increase.
“We were taking some specific precautions to prevent respiratory infections, respiratory transmission of infections such as COVID, including face masking,” he said. “As we loosened those precautions, we started seeing an uptick of other respiratory infections including influenza, as well as whooping cough or pertussis.”
Whooping cough is a respiratory illness caused by a particular type of bacteria, which is called bordetella pertussis, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Terriquez described the symptoms to watch out for.
“Some cough, maybe some running nose, fever, maybe some muscle aches,” Terriquez said.
But he says what makes it different than other respiratory infections, is that the bacteria — which requires some antibiotics to be treated — is that within one to two weeks after the onset of symptoms, people who have whooping cough will develop more symptoms.
Those additional symptoms include shortness of breath and a worsening cough that makes a distinctive sound.
"(It) makes an unusual whooping sound,” Terriquez said. “Sometimes the cough is so intense, it will cause vomiting.”
Whooping cough is contagious through respiratory droplets sent through the air by coughing or sneezing. Young babies, elderly people and those who are immunocompromised are at a higher risk for developing a serious infection.
“Some of the complications can lead to mortality,” Terriquez said.
As for why doctors want to make sure we are all aware of the increase of whooping cough cases now, well that is because Terriquez says as we enter the holiday season, there will be large gatherings of people, so everyone needs to pay attention to how they feel. If you feel a sneeze or cough coming on, be sure to cover your mouth. The other thing Terriquez recommends is getting vaccinated.
“The most intervention here is vaccination,” he said. “Making sure that those individuals at higher risk are protected with vaccine and if for whatever reason there are some questions, make sure that you reach out to your healthcare provider.”
Terriquez said sometimes the vaccinations may have a lasting effect of four to 10 years, which is why boosters are needed every so often.
Most of all, if you start developing symptoms, he says you should stay home until you can get tested or treated, all in an effort to stop the spread in our community.
“We need to make sure we’re protected,” he said.
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