BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Health care providers across the Lehigh Valley say they are seeing a spike in respiratory illnesses following the holiday season.
"All of the hospitals in the area are seeing major surges in terms of patients,” said Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke’s University Health Network’s senior vice president of medical and academic affairs and section chief emeritus of infectious diseases.
There are three to four times as many COVID-19 cases in the Lehigh Valley now than there were two months ago, Jahre said.
In addition to COVID, influenza and RSV, whooping cough and common cold cases, such as rhinovirus, are on the rise as well, Jahre said.
"All of the pediatric units in the region are full of children right now."Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke's senior vice president of medical and academic affairs and section chief emeritus of infectious diseases.
"All of the pediatric units in the region are full of children right now who either have bad influenza, or who have RSV and this is an important phenomenon because some of this could be potentially preventable,” Jahre said.
Vaccinations are available that can be used to fight off severe infections for most of the respiratory illnesses, aside from the common cold.
Jahre said whooping cough and the common cold are making a resurgence this season after mild seasons in years past because of COVID mitigation efforts.
"We've recently now been part of a major outbreak of pertussis, also known as whooping cough," Jahre said.
"And this is primarily right at this point in the Monroe County area, but it is spreading in closer to the Lehigh Valley as we speak."
Pertussis and precaution
A pertussis outbreak, primarily among students in the Stroudsburg area, now is being tracked by the state Health Department.
Pertussis often is referred to as whooping cough and is a contagious upper respiratory disease. It can be especially dangerous for very young children.
Dr. Jennifer Janco, chairman of Pediatrics at St. Luke's, said parents should take measures to protect children from contracting whooping cough by getting family members vaccinated with the Tdap vaccine.
They also should contact a primary care doctor before going to a hospital ER or urgent care center, and isolating at home while waiting for a diagnosis or after starting antibiotics.
"Don't try and diagnose yourself. If you're ill, if you're having problems breathing, if you have major underlying diseases or live with people who do, make sure that you see your primary care physician. There is testing that can be done to help differentiate this."Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke’s University Health Network’s senior vice president of medical and academic affairs
Janco and Jahre both said diagnosing upper respiratory illnesses this time of year is challenging.
"Don't try and diagnose yourself,” Jahre said. “If you're ill, if you're having problems breathing, if you have major underlying diseases or live with people who do, make sure that you see your primary care physician.
"There is testing that can be done to help differentiate this."
Jahre said those who have a higher risk of infection or complications should contact their doctor as soon as they become ill.
He said others should seek medical attention if they’re having difficulty breathing. He also said to get help if a person is unable to stay hydrated or take nourishment, or if they’re extraordinarily weak.
Jahre repeated that vaccinations are the best way to prevent severe illnesses, though some still may contract the respiratory virus.
He said the severe respiratory season will continue for at least several weeks if the pattern that they usually see holds.
