Respiratory illnesses on the rise in Illinois – NBC Chicago

As holiday gatherings continue, Illinois health officials are warning of an increase in many currently prevalent diseases.

The Illinois Department of Public Health warned this week that the state's “overall respiratory illness levels have increased to low to moderate.”

“As expected, seasonal respiratory illnesses are on the rise in Illinois as winter approaches,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Bohra said in a statement. “As you gather with your loved ones this holiday season, please use all the tools at your disposal to protect your friends and family who are most vulnerable to the most severe consequences. This includes people over 65, young children, and others. , including people who are immunosuppressed.

The rise continues in Illinois. Influenza cases are rapidly increasing in many parts of the country.

Here's what you need to know:

What's going on in Illinois?

The number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus are all on the rise, the ministry said, citing data for the week ending December 14.

The proportion of emergency department visits due to respiratory illnesses increased from 13.8% to 14.7% in one week, and ICU admissions due to RSV also increased, mainly in children aged 0 to 4 years. said the official. .

The increase comes as the number of pertussis cases has reached alarming levels both in the state and nationwide.

Approximately 14,500 people as of mid-September Cases were being recorded nationwide. Since the beginning of the year. that number rose to over 32,000 As of Dec. 14, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This is a six-fold increase compared to the same period in 2023, when more than 5,100 cases were recorded. The total for 2022 is even lower; Approximately 3,000 items.

What can we do before we get together?

Although Christmas Day has come and gone, many people are still expected to gather for the delayed celebrations and the arrival of the New Year.

Vohra encouraged organizers of holiday gatherings to:

• Provide adequate indoor ventilation
• Encourage good hand hygiene
• Remind guests to cover their coughs and sneezes

What symptoms should I watch out for?

IDPH said anyone with respiratory symptoms such as a cough, runny nose or fever should attempt to self-isolate if possible unless they require medical care. If you are unable to self-isolate, you should wear a close-fitting mask around others.

Some of the symptoms of commonly circulating respiratory viruses are listed below.

COVID

For now, the symptoms of coronavirus remain the same.

• cough
• sore throat
• snot
• sneeze
• fatigue
• headache
• muscle pain
• Changes in sense of smell
• traffic jam
• fever or chills
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhea

RSV

According to the CDC, people infected with RSV usually show symptoms within four to six days after infection. The most common symptoms are:

• snot
• traffic jam
• decreased appetite
• cough
• sneeze
• heat

Symptoms usually appear in stages rather than all at once. This sign is obvious in adults, but less noticeable in young children.

According to , other symptoms of severe cases include: Mayo Clinic.

• Wheezing – a high-pitched noise usually heard when exhaling
• Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing – sitting may be better than lying down
• Skin turns blue due to lack of oxygen

influenza

According to the CDC, flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. The main symptoms are:

• Have a fever or feel feverish/chills (It is important to note that not everyone who gets the flu develops a fever)
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• muscle pain or body aches
• headache
• Fatigue (malaise)
• Some people may experience vomiting and diarrhea, which is more common in children than adults.

What to do if you get sick or come into contact with someone who is sick

If you become sick, you can reduce the spread of the disease by staying away from others as much as possible.

For people who get sick, there are effective antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and influenza, but they need to be started quickly.

Despite holiday gatherings, public health officials say it's not too late to get vaccinated. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to provide a full level of protection, but getting vaccinated now can help protect you from cold and flu season, which lasts well into the spring.