Health issues like coughing, sneezing, and sniffling are affecting many individuals throughout the Valley.
A rise in respiratory illness is being reported throughout Arizona, as stated by Salil Pradhan, a pediatric hospitalist at Valleywise Comprehensive Health Center in Phoenix.
“We’ve been seeing an uptick over the past, probably, two to three weeks in the state and certainly in the city of Phoenix,” Pradhan told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday.
He mentioned that kids are particularly vulnerable to walking pneumonia, an illness usually triggered by a type of bacteria known as mycoplasma pneumoniae.
“It’s called walking pneumonia because they tend to be not as sick, lower fevers … just lingers a little bit longer,” Pradhan said.
He described it as akin to having a bothersome runny nose and cough. Children are less likely to experience a stuffy nose or sinus congestion, as the infection primarily affects the throat and lungs.
“It’s more of the cough and the sore throat that happens with it,” Pradhan said.
Parents are encouraged to consult a pediatrician if their child’s cough lasts longer than three or four days.
Health concerns rise nationwide due to respiratory illnesses
Kids nationwide are falling ill, but the Valley’s distinct environment usually results in fewer cases, he noted.
“In Phoenix, we tend to lag behind others simply because of our climate,” Pradham said. “Our numbers have been lower certainly than what we’re seeing on the east coast in the Midwest.”
The situation in Phoenix is worsening, but it’s not as critical as in other regions, he noted. Parents need to stay alert, particularly if their kids have asthma, according to Pradham.
“Children who have other underlying problems as far as lung conditions, asthma being the most common one, will oftentimes have more of a severe disease,” Pradham said.
In situations like this, it’s best for parents to consult a doctor promptly.
Parents can take comfort in knowing that the more severe forms of the disease are quite rare, so there’s no need for concern about serious complications, he noted.
This illness spreads quickly, so it’s important for everyone to wash their hands often, cough into their elbows, and stay home to rest and recover.