Author's note: this is part one of a two part story on staying healthy during summer vacations. Click here for part two.


Summer means getaways to de-stress and make memories. But the last thing you want is to catch a cold or worse, especially if you’re halfway across the world where health care resources might be different or scarce.

It's not too late to make some quick preparations, says Jennifer Whitfill, APRN, a family nurse practitioner at OSF HealthCare.

• Stop by the doctor’s office: Whitfill says if you haven’t seen your primary care provider for a physical exam in a while, make an appointment before vacation to address any lingering health issues. This could include getting vaccines depending on your health and where you’re going. Whitfill says typhoid fever (seen in southern Africa, Asia, Central America and South America), yellow fever (Africa), hepatitis A (remote or underdeveloped areas) and rabies are ailments to protect yourself against.
   
• Stock up on over-the-counter medication.
  
  “It’s important to be prepared,” for when these medications are needed, Whitfill says. “Consider packing Tylenol or ibuprofen, anti-allergy medicines like Claritin, Zyrtec and Benadryl. Dramamine is a good one for motion sickness or nausea. Some people reach out to their provider if they’re going on a cruise. There’s a prescription called a scopolamine patch that you can put behind your ear. It’s good for three days and helps offset motion sickness.

“Eyedrops are good if you have seasonal allergies. Over-the-counter saline or Pataday drops,” Whitfill adds. “Creams like hydrocortisone and triple antibiotic ointment are good to have.”

For outdoor trips like camping, essentials including a first aid kit, sunscreen and bug spray are must-haves, too. Know if you’re on a medication, such as certain acne creams and menstrual cycle medications, that makes you more prone to sunburn.

And regardless of what you pack, Whitfill says flyers should check the Transportation Security Administration guidelines about what can come on a plane. She says to leave medicines in their original packaging when preparing airport luggage.

• Medicine, part two – before you go: You might hear travel bloggers say to boost your immune health before traveling to reduce your risk of catching something. Is the advice overblown?
  
  Whitfill says no. She says elderberry, vitamin C and D and zinc are all good supplements to take before a trip. Start three to four weeks before departure, if you can. And if you have concerns about supplements interacting with prescription medication, talk to your provider.
   
• Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for travel advisories about disease outbreaks, civil unrest and more.

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Though not one of the most common cancers, Marcie Lindstrom, APRN, says she’s seen liver cancer cases rise in recent years in line with national trends. Luckily, the gastroenterology provider at OSF HealthCare says treatment has evolved, too. And it’s another reminder to know your body and see your health care provider regularly because liver cancer is more treatable when caught early.

The liver: A recap

A primer on what the liver does for us: Lindstrom says the liver sits underneath the right ribcage and cleans toxins from our blood, helps digestion and produces proteins needed to live. In other words, it’s not an organ you can live without like a gallbladder or one kidney.

Liver cancer: Hidden and harmful

Lindstrom says primary liver cancer describes when the cancer starts there, and secondary liver cancer is when it spreads there (medical term: metastasizes), most commonly from the lungs, breasts or colon. Secondary is more common than primary.

“There are multiple causes of liver cancer. A person is at a higher risk if they have a damaged liver,” Lindstrom says. “Things that can cause a damaged liver include alcohol. So heavy alcohol use [is a risk]. Viruses that can infect the liver such as hepatitis B and C [are risks]. And we’re seeing an increasing number of people having fatty liver disease. That puts people at risk for liver damage. That damage can progress to cirrhosis [scarring], and cirrhosis puts you at a higher risk.”

These liver issues can be fatal if untreated. And unfortunately, Lindstrom says liver cancer often comes with no symptoms.

Diagnosis and treatment

That’s where regular visits to your primary care provider, and if needed, a specialist like a gastroenterologist or oncologist come in.

Lindstrom says your provider will go over your risk factors: do you have a family history of liver issues? What’s your own health history, specifically with hepatitis? How often do you drink alcohol? What’s your daily diet and exercise routine?

“If we determine somebody has a lot of scarring of the liver, they should be on regular surveillance looking for liver cancer,” Lindstrom urges. “Every six months, they should get some imaging and possibly a blood test that helps to detect cancer.” The person could also have a biopsy of their liver, where a provider will take a sample of liver tissue and send it to a laboratory to find out exactly what’s wrong.

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and liver transplant surgery are possible treatments.

“A liver transplant could be required if the tumor isn’t very large, but there’s a lot of damage or scarring of the liver,” Lindstrom explains.

Prevention

Lindstrom says if it’s caught early, liver cancer can be treated and even cured. Some things to keep in mind to avoid the disease:

• Eat a healthy diet, avoiding things like processed food, high sugar food and high fat food that can lead to liver issues.
   
• Get moving to avoid things like obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. The American Heart Association says to aim for 150 minutes of exercise per week spread out over several days.
   
• If you do develop chronic conditions like diabetes, see your provider regularly to stay on top of managing the issue.
   
• Know your family history of liver and other health issues.
   
• Limit alcohol or avoid it altogether.
   
• There’s no vaccine for hepatitis C, but there is treatment. There is a vaccine for hepatitis B. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the shots are safe, effective and have a schedule. Talk to a provider to see if you’re on schedule or if you need a shot now, for example if you’re at high risk.
   
• Take other steps to avoid hepatitis: practice safe sexual relations, avoid blood-to-blood contact with others and don’t share or reuse needles.
  
  “You have a history of blood transfusions prior to 1992. You got a tattoo or piercing in a less than sanitary situation,” Lindstrom lists as other hepatitis risk factors. “I’d recommend getting screened. In fact, it’s a current recommendation to be screened for hepatitis C at least once in adulthood.”
  
  Lindstrom says providers list 1992 as a hepatitis C benchmark because that’s when blood screenings were developed.

Learn more

Read more about how to keep your digestive system healthy on the OSF HealthCare website. Cancer care at OSF HealthCare also includes the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute in Peoria, Illinois, which provides comprehensive care for the region.

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While infection does contribute to the immune “library,” modern vaccines offer a safer, more reliable way to add to that protection without the risks of serious illness, hospitalization or long-term complications.

As flu activity increases across the U.S. this winter, experts emphasize that vaccines remain one of the strongest tools for maintaining health and preserving natural immunity over a lifetime.

Vaccine decisions start with informed conversations

“Vaccination is an individual decision, but the impact of the vaccine protects both the individual and their family cohort, work cohort. If they're in school, it can protect that community,” says Doug Kasper, MD, infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare. “We want people to be as educated as possible and make the best decision for themself. That's really going to come down to a discussion with them and their medical provider.”

For older generations who remember “just getting the measles,” today’s medical guidance recognizes that while infection can create immunity, it also carries significant risks – and vaccines provide a much safer pathway to the same immune protection.

How flu vaccines strengthen natural immunity

“Flu vaccines, historically, never match up perfectly to all the influenza strains that circulate in the community. What we do know is that immunity is cumulative; it's a library across a person's life and it has all of their prior infections and vaccines. It builds up over time,” Dr. Kasper says.

He explains that vaccines support and expand your natural immune memory.

“Receiving a seasonal flu vaccine, while the protection it may provide in any year may be different; over time there are benefits to doing this activity, so that you have a robust variety of immunity. As the seasonal infections change, you may be protected from something that happened in the past.”

This means vaccines don't replace natural immunity – they contribute to it, adding layers of defense that reduce the severity of illness and strengthen long-term protection.

Why vaccines remain a powerful community tool

Vaccines benefit individuals, but they also help stabilize the entire health system.

“When we talk about vaccination, we talk about it at a population level. We would like every individual to not get sick, but we also know that with hospitals, urgent cares and emergency departments, that we are trying to keep the system functional,” Dr. Kasper says. “We do that by getting as few people sick as possible, and vaccines are a very useful tool to help the individual help their community and help the medical system.”

A season of multiple circulating viruses

As families enter the stretch leading up to Christmas, flu activity is increasing on both coasts – often a preview of what will soon reach the Midwest.

COVID-19 continues to circulate year-round, RSV season is underway and Central Illinois is just beginning to see early influenza activity. Early surveillance suggests this year’s flu vaccine may not be a perfect match, but even imperfect vaccines help reduce severity, hospitalizations and complications. They also continue contributing to the “immune library” that protects people long-term.

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It’s something Michael Daley, MD, sees in the emergency department often and especially this time of year: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

Dr. Daley, who provides care at OSF HealthCare, says while there’s no cure for COPD, medicine has come a long way to improve your quality of life with the disease.

COPD basics

Dr. Daley says more than 300 million people suffer from COPD, and it’s is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.

“It’s a destruction of the lung tissue in the airways. A lot of inflammation and destruction over time that causes the condition to manifest itself in people in different ways,” Dr. Daley says.

Those ways include shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing and fever. Dr. Daley points out that those symptoms overlap with a similar disease: asthma. But each has their differences, too.

“Asthma is seen as a disease of the young. People with asthma usually have that diagnosis at a much earlier age than someone with COPD,” Dr. Daley explains. “The textbooks will tell you that you typically see COPD in the sixth decade of life. So, people in their 60s, 70s and 80s.”

Treatment

Dr. Daley says many of the people he sees know they are having a COPD flare up.

“We immediately get them into a room. We put them on oxygen. We initiate various therapies that have been shown throughout the years to work well,” he says. “We’d give them steroids, antibiotics and inhalers over the course of one to three hours. We observe them and watch them improve.”

Though Dr. Daley says it’s not frequent, people can come to the hospital with a severe COPD flare up.

“They’re not moving any air at all. They’re in extreme distress,” he says.

That person would go on a ventilator to, first and foremost, save their life, but also to get them breathing more easily again. Dr. Daley says after a few days on a ventilator, health care providers would then tap into other treatments.

Long-term, a person may go on a nebulizer. It’s a machine that delivers a mist of medicine inside your body through a mouthpiece or mask. The medicine helps your airways to relax and expand, allowing you to breathe easier. This is different from an oxygen tank.

Pulmonary rehabilitation in a hospital or clinic is also a common part of treatment. Like lifting weights to build up muscle, pulmonary rehab involves exercises to work your way back to as normal breathing as possible.

“Often they’ll do what’s called chest physiotherapy. They wear a percussion vest. That helps them cough up a lot of mucus and phlegm inside their lungs that’s preventing them from breathing [well],” Dr. Daley says. “They also do a lot of breathing exercises that will help their airways expand. That leads to a better quality of life.”

Prevention

Dr. Daley says smoking tobacco is a leading cause of COPD, especially in the United States. Worldwide, air pollution is also a trigger, whether that’s outdoor smog or indoor dust and dander.

“We’re actually seeing a much younger population presenting with COPD. People in their 30s and 40s. Just because of very heavy tobacco usage,” Dr. Daley says.

So if you’re a smoker, make a plan to stop. If you live in a smoggy area, avoid prolonged exposure. Consider wearing a mask when outside. And keep your home clean and well-ventilated.

Dr. Daley adds that respiratory viruses like influenza can make COPD worse, leading to an uptick of cases in the winter. So, take basic hygiene steps to avoid those seasonal illnesses: wash your hands, cough and sneeze into your elbow, stay home when sick and be up to date on vaccinations.

Learn more

Read more about how OSF helps people with conditions like COPD recover at home.

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Pneumonia.

It’s a hard enough word to spell, let alone remember how to prevent and treat it. With respiratory illness season here, it’s time for a reminder about how to avoid this possibly deadly condition.

The basics

Fred Burke, MD, an emergency medicine physician who treats people at OSF HealthCare, says pneumonia is a lung infection caused by a virus or bacteria.

“The most common bacteria that causes it is strep pneumonia [in medical terms, streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus]. The viruses that cause it are things like RSV [respiratory syncytial virus], flu [influenza] and COVID-19 [coronavirus],” Dr. Burke says.

In other words, you could get the flu, and it could progress to pneumonia. The phrase double pneumonia means it’s impacting both lungs. Dr. Burke says people with pneumonia could experience coughing, fever, chills and weakness.

“It can cause a consolidation in the lungs. That interferes with air movement,” Dr. Burke says. “You can also get fluid buildup and scarring in the lungs.” Consolidation refers to inflamed cells that form a mass.

Diagnosis and treatment

Dr. Burke says when someone comes to the emergency department with pneumonia symptoms, a health care provider could do a chest X-ray or CAT scan to confirm the diagnosis.

“If we find it’s from a viral infection, people have to ride it out. There’s no treatment for [the ailment itself]. But we can treat the symptoms. We can give Tylenol for fever or an inhaler for shortness of breath or wheezing,” Dr. Burke explains. “If it’s from a bacterial infection, we give antibiotic medication.”

The person could take antibiotics by mouth for one to two weeks. Or, if they are having trouble breathing, the medicine would be given through intravenous (IV) therapy. Either way, the goal is to stop the bacteria in the lungs from growing.

Another tactic is a bronchoscope, where a pulmonologist inserts a tube down your throat to break up mucus in your airways.

But Dr. Burke cautions: don’t let the guidance of some “ride it out” fool you. Pneumonia is a common cause of hospitalization and death worldwide.

“One complication is sepsis, when the infection spreads to the blood. That can cause organ failure,” Dr. Burke warns. “Pneumonia can also cause respiratory failure [when the lungs aren’t working properly]. Those people might require additional oxygen. Or if it serious enough, they might require intubation [a breathing tube down the throat] or be placed on life support.”



Is it contagious?

Yes, pneumonia can spread from person to person, Dr. Burke says. It’s often transmitted through respiratory droplets (coughing or sneezing on someone), but it can spread on surfaces as well. A child could touch a dirty doorknob then put their hands in their mouth, for example.

That’s why everyday hygiene is important. Wash your hands with soap and warm water thoroughly and often. Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Stay home and away from others if you’re sick. These are especially important for people at higher risk for pneumonia: people with a history of strokes or seizures, people suffering from substance abuse, people with a compromised immune system (those with HIV or a transplanted organ, for example), smokers and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also outlines the guidelines for the pneumococcal vaccine. Talk to your primary care provider if you have questions about the shot.

“The vaccine comes from evidence-based medicine. Experts have done studies. It’s shown to be very effective in decreasing the severity of pneumonia,” Dr. Burke explains. “I would recommend people take the vaccine.”

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You’ve likely heard of bronchitis, an illness that impacts the larger lung airways and leaves you feeling short of breath and just generally yucky.

This fall and winter, here’s another respiratory illness with “bronch” in the name to be aware of, especially if you have young kids: bronchiolitis. It’s an ailment that Awad Alyami, MD, an OSF HealthCare pediatrician, sees often this time of year.

The basics

Dr. Alyami says bronchiolitis is an infection of the bronchioles, or the small airways that branch out in the lungs.

“When they become infected, there is a lot of mucus. It makes it harder to breathe,” Dr. Alyami explains.

Other symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and dehydration. Bronchiolitis is “easily spread,” Dr. Alyami says, through respiratory droplets, like when you cough. The illness is most common in children, especially kids under two. Other high-risk groups include babies born prematurely, with chronic lung disease, with heart disease present at birth and with immune system deficiencies.

“There are also environmental risk factors, like babies who are exposed to smoke and babies who attend day care,” Dr. Alyami adds. Attending day care, he explains, will expose a child to illnesses, no matter how clean the place is.

Cause, diagnosis and treatment

Dr. Alyami says other viruses like influenza and COVID-19 can cause bronchiolitis, but respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause.

“You need to see a doctor if your baby has trouble breathing at any time,” Dr. Alyami advises. “Or if your baby is younger than three months and they have a fever. Or if they are older than three months and they have a fever for more than three days. Or if the child has signs of dehydration, like if they are making fewer wet diapers than normal.”

Unlike the flu and COVID-19, there is no test for bronchiolitis. But, a health care provider may swab your nose anyway to see if you have another virus. Other tests like a chest x-ray may be done. And the provider will also examine you and ask about your health history to come up with a diagnosis.

Treatment involves making you feel comfortable until symptoms resolve.

“One of the most important things is nose suction as needed,” Dr. Alyami says. “When we suction the nose and keep it clean, it’s easier to breathe.”

A bulb suction is the most common device to do this. When you’re really stuffed up, you can use nasal spray or drops to make the secretion thinner. Then, use the suction. You can also use a humidifier if your home’s air is dry. Dr. Alyami says these devices and medicines are widely available in retail stores.

You can treat the fever with over-the-counter medication. Drink fluids to stay hydrated.

“Typically, day three to day five are the peak of symptoms,” Dr. Alyami says. “After five days, they start to improve. Symptoms can last seven to 14 days. And typically, the cough lingers for a little longer.”

In serious cases, your child may have low oxygen and need to be admitted to the hospital. There, doctors will use an oxygen tube inserted into the nostrils to help breathing. In rare cases, a doctor will put a breathing tube down the child’s throat.

Prevention

Want your child to avoid all this? Preach healthy habits, especially in fall and winter when respiratory illnesses peak. Wash your hands thoroughly. Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. If you’re sick, stay away from others.

Dr. Alyami adds that since RSV is the main cause of bronchiolitis, you should look into the RSV vaccine. This cold weather season, the vaccine is available for certain groups, like older adults, infants and pregnant women. Talk to your primary care provider if you have questions.

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We’re approaching the late summer-early fall period when respiratory illnesses begin their annual upswing. The latest news from federal health officials concerns a new variant of COVID-19, NB.1.8.1. Some people impacted have reported severe sore throats, almost like there’s a razor blade in there.

Fred Burke, MD, an emergency medicine physician who sees patients at OSF HealthCare, says illnesses like COVID, RSV and the flu will always be around. It’s just a matter of taking precautions to avoid serious illness. So, what’s the level of concern with this new COVID variant as we begin to make fall plans?

The razor’s edge

Any sore throat is an annoyance. But Dr. Burke says you should monitor severe cases closely.

“You’re less likely to want to eat or drink, which can lead to further dehydration,” he says.

You can manage sore throats at home with Tylenol or ibuprofen, chloraseptic spray, warm tea and throat lozenges. Dr. Burke says if you have trouble keeping food or fluids down, feel lightheaded or dizzy or have trouble breathing, see a health care provider right away.

COVID precautions

Dr. Burke says this new COVID variant isn’t linked to as much severe illness as other variants. But, he says it’s more easily spread.

“The average healthy person might get through it with some [figurative] bumps and bruises and little to no symptoms. For people with comorbidities or who are immunocompromised, the virus might be a little bit more detrimental,” Dr. Burke says.

Getting vaccinated and practicing good hygiene are two big tools to avoid serious illness, he adds. Wash your hands and high touch surfaces, like doorknobs, often, don’t cough or sneeze into the open air and stay home and away from others when you don’t feel well. If you’re in a crowd, especially if you have a comorbidity like diabetes, Dr. Burke says you should consider wearing a mask.

“If you’re going to have a gathering, whether at home or somewhere else, you can also recommend people take a home test to make sure they don’t have COVID prior to going,” Dr. Burke suggests. Those at-home tests can usually be found over the counter at a pharmacy.

For vaccines, recent preliminary guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends the shot this fall for people 65 and up. For others, the shot is recommended for people who have a compromised immune system or a comorbid condition like obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, lung disease or depression. The website for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, has a broader recommendation. When in doubt, Dr. Burke says to talk to your primary care provider.

Learn more

Explore other resources to keep yourself safe from COVID on the OSF HealthCare website, blog and newsroom.

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Humans are well-equipped to bounce back from most cases of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, RSV and the flu. But in some cases, the impact on your lungs can be long-lasting, leading to chronic symptoms like difficulty breathing, fatigue or brain fog. You can also be at a higher risk for a blood clot or infection in your lungs.

“There’s damage to the lungs in the form of cellular damage, as well as immune system dysregulation and prolonged inflammation,” says Yiran Gong, MD, a pulmonologist at OSF HealthCare. “These can be the drivers of post-COVID syndrome, or extensive and persistent symptoms after the resolution of the viral illness.”

Dr. Gong admits the outlook can be daunting. But health care providers have several ways to attack the problem.

Pulmonary rehabilitation involves breathing exercises to “retrain your body on how to breathe,” Dr. Gong says. For people with post COVID-asthma, a provider may prescribe an inhaler to reduce inflammation in the lungs’ small airways.

“There are medications to slow the progression of pulmonary fibrosis [scarring]. However, these medications have not really been researched for COVID specifically just because of how short of a time COVID has been around,” Dr. Gong says. “People who do have extensive lung scarring will require referral to a transplant center.”

Staying on top of your health, such as being up to date on vaccines and practicing good hygiene (like washing your hands thoroughly and often), is a good way to avoid the illnesses that cause lung issues. But if you are dealing with chronic lung symptoms, Dr. Gong says you shouldn’t lose hope.

“See a physician. Make sure there’s not an underlying cause that hasn’t been treated,” he says. “Then you’ll work on optimizing lung function. Take it one step at a time.”

Read more about how to keep your lungs in top shape on the OSF HealthCare website.

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Fall and winter could be renamed “coughing season” with seasonal illnesses in the air. But there’s more to coughing than the brief but annoying impact on your day.

Some coughing is normal. But you should see a health care provider quickly when you cough up things you shouldn’t.

The basics: Why do you cough?

Aminat Ogun, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare, says coughing is one way your body protects your lungs and airways from irritants. You expel the bad stuff out of our system, she says.

Some everyday things that can make you cough: breathing in smoke, allergies and mucus dripping down to your throat and irritating it. Or, you may just wake up in the morning and cough a few times to lighten your chest. These shouldn’t alarm you, Dr. Ogun says.

“We have cough receptors in our airways and lungs,” Dr. Ogun explains. “If we have mucus or an irritant, there’s a signal sent to our brain. The brain activates those receptors to have the cough action happen. So that’s why you clear your throat or cough in the morning. You’re trying to clear out your airways.”

If your cough is associated with an illness (like a cold, flu, RSV, COVID, bronchitis or pertussis, also called whooping cough) or a chronic condition (like asthma or COPD), you should be seeing a provider as often as needed to learn how to manage things.

Coughing up things you shouldn’t

Watch for signs that your cough may be linked to a more serious problem, Dr. Ogun says.

• Mucus: Our airways produce mucus to trap irritants, Dr. Ogun says. So it’s not out of the ordinary to cough up mucus from time to time. But if the mucus is thick or a different color (green or yellow), it could be a sign of pneumonia or bronchitis.
  
  “When it’s persistent [cough with mucus] and it’s affecting your breathing, you definitely want to be seen [by a provider,]” Dr. Ogun says.
   
• Vomit: Dr. Ogun says sometimes, you just cough hard enough to bring up some vomit. If it’s a “one-off,” as she calls it, you should still see a provider, but it may not be cause for great concern. But persistent vomiting while coughing could be a sign of whooping cough, acid reflux or aspiration (when food or drink gets into the lungs).
   
• Blood: Coughing blood brings a high level of concern, Dr. Ogun says.
  
  “Sometimes you have the common cold, you’re coughing for a long period and you irritated your airways. Maybe you nick the capillary artery [leading to coughing blood.] That’s fine,” Dr. Ogun says. “But more serious conditions would be a blood clot in the lung or tuberculosis.”
  
  Heart failure, lung cancer or infections are also associated with coughing up blood.
   

Diagnosis and treatment

When you see a provider for an abnormal cough, they’ll ask about your health history, specifically about your cough. How long have you been coughing? Did something trigger it? What are you coughing up? Do you have other symptoms, like a fever?

“Then the provider could do a physical examination. They look at the back of your throat. They listen to your lungs to see if they hear anything concerning. Depending on what they find, they could order a chest X-ray or a CT scan to see what’s going on inside your chest,” Dr. Ogun says.

Treatment will depend on what the provider finds. For example, acid reflux can be tamped down by an antacid or a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). For an infection like pneumonia, you’ll get an antibiotic. If it is just an irritating tickle in your throat, you may get a steroid like Flonase.

What you can do

Some advice from Dr. Ogun to ensure coughs don’t derail your health:

• Parents should keep a close eye on kids and their coughing.
   
• No matter the age, don’t shake off one instance of a bad cough and assume things will go back to normal. See a provider right away.
   
• While vaccines don’t prevent coughing, Dr. Ogun says they are critically important to stomp out the illnesses associated with coughing. Talk to your health care provider about when you’re due for flu, COVID, RSV, pneumonia and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccines.
  
  “Pertussis is dangerous in immunocompromised people and kids,” Dr. Ogun warns. “RSV is highly contagious, as well. It’s life-threating in infants and older adults.
  
  “What vaccines do is help prevent getting to the very severe stage [of an illness,]” she adds. “You’re trying to prevent ending up in the hospital. You’re also reducing the risk of infection. And you’re protecting people around you who may be sicker than you.”
   
• Daily hygiene habits also go a long way. Sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue. Wash your hands often. Stay home and away from others when sick. Again, these don’t prevent coughs. But they can help prevent the spread of illness that brings those rough coughing fits.

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Author's note: This is part three of a four part story on infant nutrition misconceptions. Read part one here, part two here and part four here.

Bringing a new baby home raises the focus on their and mom’s well-being. Toward the top of the list: what and how the child is being fed.

Whether you choose to breastfeed or use formula, misconceptions about infant nutrition are everywhere. Xandra Anderson, a certified lactation consultant at OSF HealthCare, cuts through the noise.

• I shouldn’t breastfeed when I’m sick.
  
  If you’re very sick, focus on rest and recovery. And if you have certain conditions like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or herpes with open lesions, don’t breastfeed. But otherwise, experts say it’s OK. You’ll pass antibodies to your baby.
  
  To put it another way: “Breast milk is like the first vaccine,” Anderson says.
  
  “There’s also this cool backwash effect. When your baby is at the breast, their saliva communicates with your body,” she adds. “If your baby starts to show signs of what you are sick with, your body ramps up and says ‘my baby needs extra of this’. The communication is amazing.”
   
• Breastfeeding can prevent future pregnancies.
  
  Long-term, it doesn’t impact your fertility, Anderson says.
  
  But short-term, she says prolactin, the hormone needed to make milk, suppresses ovulation.
  
  “[Prolactin] peaks at night. So if you miss night feedings, you’re potentially allowing ovulation to start again,” Anderson explains.
  
  “Is breastfeeding 100% prevention of future pregnancies? No. But exclusive breastfeeding can really delay your period and ovulation for as long as you exclusively breastfeed,” Anderson adds. “As baby gets older and you breastfeed less, you may notice your cycle comes back. Once you stop breastfeeding [entirely], your body really does go back to normal.”
   
• Societal norms say I shouldn’t breastfeed past a certain age.
  
  It’s a topic that sometimes makes its way to daytime talk shows, drawing side eyes from other moms. Should you stop breastfeeding after a year or two? Or is it OK to breastfeed until the child is three, four or five?
  
  Anderson admits it’s a hot debate, even a stigma. She says in the United States, breastfeeding up to six to 12 months is most common. But the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend breastfeeding up to age two and longer. Either way, Anderson says breastfeeding for a long time doesn’t present health concerns for mom or the child.
  
  “There’s really no cutoff. It really depends on what works for you and your family. I have a lot of moms that hit 18 months and are ready to be done. And that’s OK. Your baby has made it past those 12 months where it’s necessary to have breast milk,” if you’re choosing to breastfeed, Anderson says.

“Mom is the boss always,” she adds.

Learn more

Read more about how to have a successful pregnancy and following years on the OSF HealthCare website.

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Measles can spread through respiratory droplets (like when you cough and sneeze), and it only takes a small amount of the virus to cause infection in others. 

"It can remain in an area for an hour or two after the infected person has left the area. The difference: in a setting that you have many people in a convalescent center, social center or shelter, you'd be concerned about exposure to the unvaccinated people," says Doug Kasper, MD, an infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) calls measles a "serious airborne disease,” reporting 107,500 measles deaths globally in 2023. Most deaths were in children under the age of five. The WHO partially blames the COVID-19 pandemic for the reemergence of measles globally, saying immunization rates and surveillance declined because of it. In 2023, 10.3 million measles cases were reported worldwide, a 20% increase from 2022. 

In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 280 measles cases have been reported in the United States from 32 jurisdictions, including Washington D.C.

Sixteen outbreaks have been reported this year, compared to four in 2023. Outbreaks are when there are three or more related cases. The CDC adds that 40% of the reported 280 cases ended up in the people being hospitalized.

Who is most at risk?

"The particular populations that we are most concerned about if they were to become exposed to measles are pregnant women or children under the age of five. They can have more severe clinical outcomes," Dr. Kasper says. “We are not seeing any concern for measles in Central Illinois. There has been sporadic reporting of cases by the Illinois Department of Public Health out of Chicago. But the unique details of those cases have not been shared so far. Where did the people travel from? Had they been previously vaccinated? Or were there exposures in the household? We await some guidance if there is a unifying feature among them.”

Measles outbreaks in Illinois

This fall, the Pan American Health Organization, the WHO'S branch in the Americas Region, issued an epidemiological alert for measles cases in the Americas, with the U.S. accounting for the most cases. 

Illinois and Minnesota have reported the most measles cases in the U.S. this year. 

In March, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) reported a measles outbreak in a migrant shelter in the city's Pilsen neighborhood, located in the Lower West Side. The CDPH considered the outbreak "contained" in late May, crediting a rapid vaccination response. 

Vaccine mitigation

One dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 93% effective, while two doses jump to 97% effective. If you've been vaccinated against measles, you're unlikely to have any symptoms at all. The measles vaccine is given alone or often combined with vaccines for mumps, rubella and/or varicella.

"Fortunately, we have widespread vaccination as a standard part of medical care in the United States. As children we receive two shots of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine starting at age one. The second shot will be before entering school at age four or five. The vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles. So, while measles is highly infectious, we have a nationwide response to prevent outbreaks of infection,” Dr. Kasper says.

The recommendation is to complete your childhood vaccine series, which Dr. Kasper calls "very safe, durable and long-lasting." 

Measles symptoms

Symptoms for unvaccinated people: 

• Upper respiratory infections (resulting in a cough or runny nose)
• Followed by fever or rash – fever can be very high (103-104 degrees) 
• Blue spots in the mouth or along the gumline (seen a week into infection)
• Red and watery eyes
• Small white spots inside the cheeks  
• Illness can lead to meningitis or encephalitis

Because of the potential lead to meningitis or encephalitis, Dr. Kasper says getting vaccine protection is the definitive recommended option instead of developing natural immunity. He adds neurological effects down the road are also a concern. 

If families with children under one year of age plan to travel outside the country or to a large metropolitan area in the U.S. with low or no measles vaccination rates, parents should speak to their child's pediatrician. The child's doctor may recommend starting the measles vaccinations as early as 6 months of age. Currently, Dr. Kasper says there is no concern for widespread measles activity in schools, senior living communities or the general public. 

Video Interview Clips

Shingles.

It’s a word that stings just coming out of your mouth. And it’s certainly an illness you want to avoid.

There are time-tested treatments for the disease that’s associated with chickenpox – namely an effective vaccine. But new research from the University of Pennsylvania and New York University (NYU) gives hope to people who have suffered eye complications from shingles.

“It’s promising,” says Fred Burke, MD, an emergency medicine physician who provides care at OSF HealthCare.

Shingles basics

Dr. Burke says shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Chickenpox is common in children, who typically suffer from a blistering rash for four to seven days.

“That virus will lie dormant in the nerve cells of the body. For some unknown reason, it gets activated later in life,” causing shingles, Dr. Burke says. “Generally, that’s in people 50 and over. You’ll get a localized blistering rash. It’s painful. It can last for three to five weeks. We treat it with antiviral medication.”

Catching the disease early is key.

“If the rash has already crusted over, the antiviral medication won’t be effective,” Dr. Burke says. “You can treat the pain, but you have to just ride it out.”

You’re not contagious at that point, Dr. Burke says, but you’ll want to rest.

Aside from older adults, people with a compromised immune system – for example, someone with cancer or a transplanted organ – are at a higher risk for shingles. The disease spreads through the air – like when you cough on someone – or by direct contact.

In some cases, the pain from shingles can linger for months or years, Dr. Burke says. It’s called neuropathic pain, and there’s medicine available for that too. Meningitis and facial paralysis are other shingles complications.

Shingles can also impact the eyes, causing redness, swelling, itching and impaired vision. This is called herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO).

“We treat that with antiviral medication. We consult an ophthalmologist because the person may also need steroids,” Dr. Burke says. “It’s good to treat this quickly because it can lead to vision loss.”

Treating eye complications

That’s where the new research comes in.

Elisabeth J. Cohen, MD, a professor of ophthalmology at NYU, did the study after she was impacted by shingles-related vision loss. The research looked at the antiviral treatment valacyclovir, which is typically short term.

“The researchers showed that using valacyclovir for a year can decrease the risk of new or worsening eye disease by 26 percent at 18 months after initiating treatment. Patients treated with valacyclovir also were 30 percent less likely than those not receiving the treatment to have multiple HZO flare-ups at a year or a year-and-a-half later,” a news release announcing the research results says.

“I was very, very impressed,” Dr. Burke says after reading the results.

Importance of vaccines

Like any new research, more study is needed of long-term use of valacyclovir. In the meantime, Dr. Burke says vaccines for chickenpox and shingles are 90% effective.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says children under 13 should get two doses of the chickenpox vaccine – one at 12 to 15 months and the other at four to six years. People 13 and older who never got chickenpox or the vaccine should also get two doses 28 days apart.

But be warned: Dr. Burke says if you don’t get chickenpox as a child, you can still get shingles as an adult.

“It’s the same virus,” that’s associated with both ailments, he says. “So if you catch it from someone [as an adult], you’ll probably get chickenpox first. And you could get shingles later.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Burke says the two-shot shingles vaccine is for healthy people 50 and older and people 19 and older who are immunocompromised.

Interview clips

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The updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be available at pharmacies around the country in the coming weeks. 

The mRNA vaccine is not a booster, says Doug Kasper, MD, an infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare. He says it's recommended  for a much broader portion of the population, everyone six months and older, as a one-time, once a year vaccine. 

This vaccine does not prevent you from getting COVID-19, but the goal is to prevent severe illness from the virus. 

Dr. Kasper says it's totally fine to get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines in the same appointment.

"There's no issue with timing on getting the COVID and influenza vaccines. The RSV vaccine is recommended to be given separate," Dr. Kasper says. "Most of that has to do with the fact they weren't studied together, there's not an adverse issue with it. For the population, COVID and influenza are recommended across almost all age groups. RSV is for our older population, so we recommend spacing that out by a week or two."

Dr. Kasper says for those 65 and older with respiratory conditions, it might be recommended they receive a second booster in six-month increments.

Health Highlights Video Version With Chyrons

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The updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be available at pharmacies around the country in the coming weeks.

The mRNA vaccine is not a booster, says Doug Kasper, MD, an infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare. He says it’s recommended for a much broader portion of the population.

"The vaccine is now recommended for everybody 6 months and older as a one-time, once-a-year vaccine," Dr. Kasper says. “The vaccine has been updated. For people who are at really high risk, those 65 and older or with respiratory conditions, they may get a second shot. This would be in a six-month interval in the springtime.” 

Does the vaccine prevent me from getting COVID-19?

The quick answer? No, much like you find with the annual influenza vaccine.

"The vaccine seeks to protect severe outcomes associated with COVID-19. It doesn't protect you from getting COVID, it tries to decrease the severity of how sick you would get," Dr. Kasper says. 

While there has been an uptick in COVID-19 cases recently, Dr. Kasper says there has not been an increase in COVID hospitalizations. He attributes this to robust natural immunity in the population and adding this COVID-19 vaccine is just another way to protect yourself from severe illness.

FDA’s “What to Know” sheet

The 2024-2025 formula has been updated to protect against the Omicron variant KP.2.

• Unvaccinated individuals 6 months through 4 years of age are eligible to receive three doses of the updated, authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or two doses of the updated, authorized Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
• Individuals 6 months through 4 years of age who have previously been vaccinated against COVID-19 are eligible to receive one or two doses of the updated, authorized Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines (timing and number of doses to administer depends on the previous COVID-19 vaccine received).
• Individuals 5 years through 11 years of age regardless of previous vaccination are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated, authorized Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines; if previously vaccinated, the dose is administered at least two months after the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
• Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated, approved Comirnaty (manufactured by Pfizer BioNTech) or the updated, approved Spikevax (manufactured by Moderna); if previously vaccinated, the dose is administered at least two months since the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
• Additional doses are authorized for certain immunocompromised individuals ages 6 months through 11 years of age as described in the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine fact sheets.

Commercial retailers are the way to go

As the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna become available, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) will publish a pharmacy lookup website at https://www.vaccines.gov/en/vaccines.gov to help people find the nearest vaccine locations.

Dr. Kasper says the best bet at getting a vaccine appointment for COVID-19 or influenza, is through pharmacies at local commercial retailers like Target, Walgreens, CVS or Walmart.

Free COVID-19 home tests are coming back

“The U.S. government will make the at-home COVID testing available for free again this year. You can request up to four home tests that will be delivered to your address for free,” Dr. Kasper says. That gives people another option for testing if they think they're developing signs of COVID even after receiving a vaccine, which can be another way to avoid wait lines at urgent cares, ERs or primary care clinics, and to keep themselves isolated until symptoms have resolved.”

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reports that COVIDTests.gov will be the website to order from once the website is active.

Status of the Novavax vaccine

A third manufacturer, Novavax, makes a protein-based vaccine similar to influenza vaccines. While it hasn’t been approved by the FDA, Dr. Kasper suspects it will be soon.

"It likely will be approved, and Novavax has been a prior manufacturer of COVID-19 vaccines. That is a third option that will be coming that isn't mRNA based for people to consider if they had an adverse reaction with Pfizer or Moderna in the past,” Dr. Kasper says.

Can I get the COVID-19 and flu vaccine at the same time?

"There's no issue with timing on getting the COVID and influenza vaccines. The RSV vaccine is recommended to be given separate," Dr. Kasper says. “Most of that has to do with the fact they weren't studied together, there's not an adverse issue with it. For the population, COVID and influenza are recommended across almost all age groups. RSV is for our older population, so we recommend spacing that out by a week or two.”

For all vaccine questions, Dr. Kasper recommends speaking with your primary care team to go over options.

Video Interview Clips

She was about to become a statistic in a polio epidemic and battle a disease that still impacts her in 2024.

Though polio is nearly eradicated today thanks to childhood vaccinations, both the disease and the shots have garnered headlines lately. This month, Paul Alexander, who spent much of his life in an iron lung, passed away at age 78. And the state of Illinois is combating a measles outbreak, reminding us of the importance of vaccines.

Kemnetz’s story

Kemnetz says the week she got her headache that led to a polio diagnosis was a painful blur.

“All my senses were on high alert,” she says. “The littlest sound was like somebody stomping next to my ear. We had a little night light. I couldn’t even stand to have it on.”

On Sunday, the family doctor made a house call and immediately called for an ambulance. Kemnetz wound up at Mercy Hospital in Urbana, Illinois (now OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center). That next month, she says, was also a blur. Among other things, doctors upon her arrival performed a spinal tap to examine Kemnetz’s spinal fluid. She also recalls waking up one day with doctors preparing to put her in an iron lung to help her breathe.

“I screamed at my parents not to put me in that. I was terrified,” Kemnetz says.

After leaving the hospital, Kemnetz got more treatment near her home before spending over a year at a hospital in New York. There, she reprogrammed her leg muscles to work through repetitious exercises. It’s what we know today as physical therapy. Eventually, she returned to a mostly normal life and a career in real estate.

Polio then vs. now

Albert England, MD, an infectious disease physician at OSF HealthCare, says polio has been around “for a long time.” There’s even evidence of ancient Egyptians having it, he says. The disease is caused by a virus that “invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Other symptoms are flu-like, including fever, difficulty breathing, fatigue, headache, vomiting, a stiff neck and pain in the arms or legs.

Dr. England says today, doctors use ventilators to help sick people who can’t breathe. But back in 1952, the iron lung – which Kemnetz got acquainted with – was the help available for people with polio.

“It produced negative pressure around the patient, allowing the lungs to expand and contract regularly,” Dr. England explains.

“It was like having CPR 24/7,” Kemnetz says of lying in the tube. “So uncomfortable.”

Kemnetz also gave blood to help develop a polio vaccine, the number one way we have come to fight that disease and many others. It’s a topic she’s passionate about today.

“We have to save the children,” she says.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says children should get four doses of the polio vaccine as a part of routine childhood vaccinations. The CDC says while it’s rare, adults who know or suspect they did not get the shots as kids should get them as adults. Adults who are at an increased risk of getting the disease, such as working in a laboratory where the virus may be present, can get a booster shot.

“The vaccine prevents illness by developing antibodies,” Dr. England explains.

Kemnetz today

In 1985, Kemnetz developed post-polio syndrome, a disorder that weakens the nerves and muscles. She says her hands “look nice,” but everyday tasks like writing, eating or shuffling cards are tough.

“There are just not as many neurons providing the strength the people need,” Dr. England says of post-polio syndrome.

But, after being told in 1952 that walking, having children and living a long life was unlikely, Kemnetz is counting her blessings. Among them are the chances to recount her life story with her children and grandchildren.

“I think I thumbed my nose at them pretty good,” she quips about her prognosis back then. “The word ‘can’t’ isn’t in my vocabulary.”

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Anal and rectal cancer occur in parts of the body near each other, and they both have prevention steps and time-tested treatments. But they are different types of cancer, says Raman Kumar, MD, a colorectal and general surgeon with OSF HealthCare.

Rectal cancer

Dr. Kumar says the rectum is the last part of the colon, where stool is stored.

Signs of rectal cancer include bleeding, irregular bowel movements (such as the shape of the stool changing and the inability to have a complete bowel movement), weight loss, fatigue and pain in the rectal area.

Rectal cancer impacts men and women roughly equally, and it’s seen “at almost any age,” Dr. Kumar says. If you smoke and eat a lot of red meat and processed food, your risk will go up.

Anal cancer

Dr. Kumar says the anus is where stool comes out. He says signs of anal cancer can be like those of rectal cancer. But often, he says an anal cancer diagnosis starts when a person believes they have hemorrhoids, or when the veins or blood vessels around the anus and lower rectum become swollen and irritated due to extra pressure.

“It turns out not to be a hemorrhoid. It could be a mass or a lesion. You could have some bleeding, especially when you’re wiping with toilet paper or wet wipes,” Dr. Kumar says.

Anal cancer’s prevalence in the United States is “very low,” Dr. Kumar says, with around 8,000 cases per year. Around two-thirds of the cases are women, and it’s more common in age 50 and up.

“The number one cause of anal cancer is HPV, the human papillomavirus,” Dr. Kumar says. “So, it is considered a sexually transmitted disease.”

But he says you don’t have to be sexually active to get anal cancer. Regardless, there are vaccines for the most common HPVs that cause cancer.

Prevention and treatment

Symptoms aside, Dr. Kumar says there’s a must-do for anal and rectal cancer prevention: get on a colonoscopy schedule as advised by your health care provider. A colonoscopy is when a provider inspects your colon and surrounding areas using a tiny camera on the end of a tube. Dr. Kumar says generally, colonoscopies start at age 45. But they could start earlier if you have a family history of cancer.

Other tips: Don’t smoke. Exercise regularly. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and fiber. Thirty grams of fiber per day is a good goal, Dr. Kumar says.

If you do have symptoms of anal or rectal cancer, see a provider to get checked out.

Dr. Kumar says treatment for anal cancer is usually chemotherapy and radiation therapy. He says when treated properly, the typical five-year survival rate is around 80%.

“The only times we would operate on anal cancer are to get the original [cancerous] mass out and if the cancer comes back,” Dr. Kumar explains.

For rectal cancer, Dr. Kumar says around 40% of people can also be treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Others will need surgery to remove the cancer. But Dr. Kumar says medicine has progressed to where people can typically avoid a colostomy, or when a part of the colon is diverted outside the skin to bypass a damaged part of the colon. This is temporary and comes with a bag that collects the waste that would normally leave your body via a bowel movement.

Learn more

Read more about prevention and treatment of rectal and anal cancer on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

After nearly six decades of research, experiments and testing, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially approved the first RSV vaccine.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms. While the virus is normally mild in most people, it can be extremely serious for infants and some higher-risk older adults.

Douglas Kasper, MD, section head of infectious disease at the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine Peoria and an infectious disease specialist for OSF HealthCare, says, currently, the Arexvy vaccine is only approved for individuals 60 and older but the hope is to expand who can receive the RSV vaccine by the end of summer.

“There are ongoing trials looking at vaccinating mothers who are pregnant,” Dr. Kasper says. “This would be for potential protection of unborn children, but that has not been approved yet. There’s expected re-evaluation of that data coming this summer. Hopefully by August we get some updated patient groups.”

Dr. Kasper says if the RSV vaccine is successful in pregnant women, it could provide life-saving antibodies for their babies.

“We’re trying to use the mother’s ability to create an immune response, because the baby cannot do that on their own. So if we can vaccinate during pregnancy, which is the study group we’re awaiting data for, there would be a huge benefit for young children that currently does not exist,” Dr. Kasper says.

Dr. Kasper says this vaccine is much different than the COVID-19 vaccine.

“This is not an MRNA vaccine which is something we talked very commonly with COVID-19,” Dr. Kasper says. “This is more of a traditional vaccine. The person is being exposed to a protein from the virus and then they make an immune response that protects them if they were ever exposed to the virus. It’s much more akin to the influenza vaccine that most people are comfortable with.”

Dr. Kasper says most older adults who get RSV experience mild symptoms. But he says doctors have seen a change in RSV symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Particularly those with chronic lung disease, RSV can almost mimic COVID-like illness that brought some people to the hospital,” Dr. Kasper says.

Dr. Kasper adds that the late summer timing would be good to expand the RSV vaccine for other high-risk groups, since most cases are normally seen in the fall through spring.

Video Interview Clips

Jeff Beck, known as one of the most talented and influential musicians of all time, recently died from bacterial meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. A two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (first in 1992 as a member of the Yardbirds), Beck was 78.

According to Dr. Syed Zaidi, a family practice physician with OSF HealthCare, meningitis is anything that can penetrate the lining of your brain. It could affect someone who’s had a major neurological surgery, a spinal tap, or sometimes even a common cold.

“You know how you sneeze or have a sinus infection? Anything in close vicinity to your brain, and it's unlikely but higher risk people who have other chronic comorbid conditions such as diabetics, heart failure, seizures, or IV drug use, which is a different kind of a risk factor, as well as HIV. Those who might have a weaker immune system such as children, or on the other spectrum, older in age are also at a higher risk.”

Each year, there are about 2.5 million cases of meningitis around the world. About 250,000 of those people die, including 20,000 in the United States. It’s more common in developing or third world countries, Dr. Zaidi says, because the greatest risk is among people who live in close quarters, such as refugee camps, overcrowded homes or groups traveling on mission trips.

The symptoms vary, ranging from fever to headache and nausea. And while most people survive bacterial meningitis, many do suffer from permanent disabilities, such as brain damage, learning disabilities and hearing loss.

“You start to worry when you have fevers, chills, sweats, but the hallmark when we as clinicians get a little worried is when you have neck stiffness, difficulty moving your neck and confusion of cognitive impairment that comes on pretty abruptly," says Dr. Zaidi.  "One day, you're pretty normal and then all of a sudden, you're either slurring your speech or your memory’s not right. Other people notice or you even pass out.”

Meningitis affects people of all ages, but young children seem to be at a greater risk. Newborn babies are at risk from Group B streptococcus, and young children are at higher risk from meningococcus, pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenza. 

“In babies the bacteria that are commonly involved are a little bit different," says Dr. Zaidi.  "We typically think about the common ear infection in the child or newborns are higher risk for other types of bacteria known as Group B strep, in addition to listeria, which is another bacteria and that can be commonly acquired even through the birthing process. Not all women who are pregnant undergoing delivery will get screened for that. We have safeguards in place, but I think it's also important to educate the mother, the parents, and the family, about these risks and why we do these screenings.”

Bacterial meningitis is treated by antibiotics. Dr. Zaidi says timing is key, so recognizing symptoms as soon as possible is crucial. If you are experiencing a fever, neck stiffness or confusion, it’s time to seek immediate care. He adds that treatment is usually successful but as many as 20% of cases will have long-term complications including brain fog, cognitive delays or memory loss.

Dr. Zaidi stresses the best prevention is to stay current with your vaccinations, including those that protect against certain types of bacterial meningitis. There are vaccines for four types of bacteria that can cause meningitis. Talk to your doctor about vaccinations. 

“I think bringing up what you're due for in terms of prevention of all conditions, whether it be cancers or infections. Vaccines are a part of that," he says. "I think the street goes both ways. Your doctor will bring it up too, but I think it's also very important for us as consumers of healthcare, to be wise to be able to ask those questions and engage in that conversation.”

For more information about vaccines, visit OSF HealthCare. 

 

Interview Clips 

As many as 2 billion people worldwide will be exposed to hepatitis B during their lifetime, says David Rzepczynski, MD, a gastroenterologist at OSF HealthCare in Urbana, Illinois. Around 250 million people have chronic inflammation of the liver from hepatitis B or are carriers of the virus without inflammation. And around 890,000 people will die from hepatitis B. Asia and Africa are hepatitis B hotspots, Dr. Rzepczynski says, while the United States doesn’t have it as bad.

The statistics might make eyeballs widen, but Dr. Rzepczynski says they are not a reason to panic.

“The majority of people who get exposed to hepatitis B in the adult age – after age 10 – it’s typically a condition you recover from without chronic inflammation,” he says.

The reason for the optimism? There’s a vaccine for hepatitis B that’s been around since the 1980s.

“There has been an aggressive program of initiating vaccines with kids, sometimes even as young as infants, to have protection,” Dr. Rzepczynski says. “And when those [vaccines] are administered at a young age, it’s a highly effective vaccination. This vaccination has an efficacy of 95%-plus in the general population.”

The three-shot series is sometimes given soon after birth due to concerns that the mother may pass along hepatitis B to their child. But older children and adults can and should get the vaccine, too.

A hepatitis B immune globulin shot (HBIG for short) may also be appropriate in cases of hepatitis B exposure, either in adults or newborns. The particles in the shot attack the virus.

The next best way to avoid hepatitis B is to avoid risky behaviors.

Don’t share needles, toothbrushes or any other object that can transfer bodily fluids. Practice safe sexual relations. And if you’re bleeding, bandage it up right away.

Treatment

Dr. Rzepczynski says blood tests and watching symptoms can gauge how the virus is behaving. That will determine whether the person just needs monitoring. Or the patient may need medical treatment to suppress the virus and prevent cirrhosis of the liver. These medicines are taken by mouth, and side effects are generally not significant. A vaccine to eliminate hepatitis B hasn’t been discovered yet.

Treatment plans for hepatitis B may be life-long.

“If you stop taking the medicine, it’s like taking the brakes off the system,” Dr. Rzepczynski explains. “The virus will end up reactivating. And in fact, that reactivation might cause liver failure because the virus level skyrockets. And your body’s immune system senses that and starts attacking the liver to get rid of the virus. And that can lead to very serious and acute inflammation of the liver.”

Should I test?

Dr. Rzepczynski says a blood test for hepatitis B isn’t something that constantly needs to be on the mind of the average person. But the following people should consider getting tested:

·       People who come from areas of the world with a high prevalence of hepatitis B

·       Pregnant women

·       If you plan to donate blood or organs

·       People who’ve had an exposure to the virus

·       People getting chemotherapy for cancer treatment

That last one is something medical professionals have looked closely at in the last five years.

“Unfortunately, some of these powerful cancer agents also have the ability to affect the immune system in such a way that a person who’s had hepatitis B and maybe even has gotten over it can have a reactivation of hepatitis B when these particular agents are used,” Dr. Rzepczynski says.

In that case, your cancer doctor would alter the treatment to allow it to proceed without the hepatitis B risk.

Be proactive

If you have questions about hepatitis B, want to get the vaccine or think you may have been exposed to the virus, talk to your primary care provider right away. The OSF HealthCare and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites also have information on hepatitis.

Interview clips

Previous coverage

Know your risk for hepatitis

Importance of vaccinations

Common gastrointestinal ailments are a pain, but treatable