Acute respiratory illnesses appear to have peaked for season in Clark County

Emergency room visits and hospitalizations for acute respiratory illness in Clark County peaked in February but remain high.

Acute respiratory illness data includes COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

Emergency room visits for acute respiratory illness reached a high of 16.3 percent of total visits during the first week of February, according to Clark County Public Health. That’s the highest level reported since October, when the respiratory illness season began. The rate fell to 13.4 percent by the end of February and to 12 percent in the first week of March.

Hospitalizations for acute respiratory illness mirror a similar trend, reaching a high of 23 percent of all hospital admissions at the beginning of February, falling to 15.2 percent in the first week of March, according to Clark County Public Health.

Levels of COVID-19 and RSV have been low, with both of them making up less than 1 percent of emergency room visits and hospital admissions in Clark County during the week of March 1-7.

Influenza appears to be declining after peaking in the last week of January at 5.9 percent of emergency room visits. Hospital admissions for flu also have declined since the first week of February, when they peaked at 4.1 percent of all hospitalizations.

Clark County Public Health updates data on COVID-19, influenza, RSV and acute respiratory illness weekly. The county’s public dashboard compares trends from the past three years and uses data from the Washington State Department of Health. It also tracks current influenza activity, including the percentage of positive tests, circulating strains of the virus and information about outbreaks in long-term care facilities.

Ed Kauffman, a specialized nurse practitioner and owner of Vancouver Direct Primary Care, said acute respiratory illness is a broad diagnosis that can encompass several illnesses, which is why rates can be higher compared with other respiratory illnesses.

However, acute respiratory illness typically comes from a viral or bacterial source.

Symptoms include sore throat, cough, runny nose, fever, body aches and, in more severe cases, difficulty breathing.

“I’m seeing a lot of people who are having symptoms for two to five weeks. It definitely is something that’s kind of going around quite a bit,” Kauffman said. “Anecdotally, a lot of my patients seem to be having some pretty severe sore throats as well.”

Kauffman said that if someone is experiencing symptoms of acute respiratory illness, they can seek treatment at an urgent care clinic. If symptoms include shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, he advises going to the hospital.

While respiratory illness season may be nearing an end as spring approaches, Kauffman said, a resurgence still is possible. He recommends residents speak with their primary care physicians about which vaccines may help protect them.

Staying home while you’re experiencing symptoms or wearing a mask are other ways to reduce your chances of spreading illnesses.