♪ COUGH OR SNEEZE ON A PLANE OR A PUBLIC SPACE AND I BET YOU GET THE COVID STARE.

WHILE THE FEAR OF COVID MAY BE THE CAUSE OF YOUR COUGH, THERE ARE MANY OTHER EQUALLY SERIOUS RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES OUT THERE.

STAY WITH US AS WE TALK WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST Dr.

MARK BURNS ABOUT UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT ILLNESSES IN THE OHIO VALLEY NEXT ON "KENTUCKY HEALTH."

>> "KENTUCKY HEALTH" IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY.

♪ ♪ THOUGH THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO WISH IT WEREN'T SHOW, COVID HAS NOT GONE AWAY.

IN FACT, IT, LIKE THE FLU, HAS BECOME A REGULAR SEASONAL VISITOR DESTINED TO TORMENT US FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.

WHILE COVID HAS RIGHTFULLY GARNERED THE ATTENTION THAT WE GIVE IT, SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT THERE ARE OTHER EQUALLY INFECTIOUS AGENTS THAT CAN CAUSE BOTH ACUTE AND CHRONIC SERIOUS UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT ILLNESSES.

THESE INCLUDE HISTOPLASMOSIS, FUNGUS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OHIO VALLEY DISEASE, MICROPLASMA PNEUMONIA, THE CAUSE OF WALKING PNEUMONIA AND THE MEASLES VIRUS WHICH AT THE TIME OF THIS TAPING HAS HAD A RESURGENCE.

TO HELP US DISTINGUISH THE VARIOUS CAUSES OF UPPER RES STORY TRACT INFECTIONS, THEIR PRESENTATIONS, TREATMENTS AND WAYS TO PREVENT THEM, WE HAVE IS ON CUR GUEST TODAY, INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST Dr.

MARK BURNS WHO EARNED HIS MEDICAL DEGREE FROM THE LOUISVILLE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND COMPLETED A RESIDENCY IN INTERNAL MEDICINE AND FELLOWSHIP IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE HOSPITAL.

Dr.

BURNS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PRACTICES AS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE HOSPITAL.

Dr.

BURNS, MARK, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE OUR GO TO GUY WHEN IT COMES TO TALK ABOUT INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND THINGS.

I'M GLAD SOMEBODY IS DOING ALL THIS STUFF.

>> HAPPY TO DO IT.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT ILLNESSES, WHAT ARE WE REALLY TALKING ABOUT?

WHAT PART OF THE BODY AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

>> OKAY, WELL, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT, WE TALK ABOUT THINGS IN WHAT WE CALL THE UPPER AIRWAYS THAT IS BEGINNING, LET'S SAY, IT IS ANATOMICAL DEFINITION.

BEGINNING WITH THE NOSE, INVOLVING THE SINUSES, THE BACK OF THE THROAT DOWN TO THE LARYNX, THE QUOTE UNQUOTE VOICE BOX IS.

>> IF WE WANT TO INCLUDE THE LUNGS WE SAY RESPIRATORY TRACT SYSTEM.

>> OR LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT.

>> I GUESS A LOT OF THESE BACTERIA VIRUSES AND FUNGI, THEY DON'T KNOW THE GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES.

DO THEY GO UP AND DOWN OR LIMIT THEMSELVES TO ONE SPACE TO ANOTHER.

>> THEY KNOW NO BOUNDARIES UNFORTUNATELY.

>> THEY DIDN'T READ THE BOOK.

NOT THE TV SHOW, THE BOOK WE ALL HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

THEY DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION.

: SO THERE ARE THERE COMMONALITIES THE PRESENTATION THAT CAUSE RESPIRATORY TRACT UPPER OR LOWER RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES.

>> SOME OF THE COMMON PRESENTATIONS YOU ARE GOING TO SEE ARE USUALLY SOMEONE THAT MAY COMPLAIN OF A STUFFY NOSE, THEY MAY COMPLAIN OF HEADACHE, COUGH.

IN A LOT OF CASES, THEY WILL COMPLAIN ALSO OF SORE THROAT AS WELL, TOO.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WITH JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT IS GOING CAUSE DISEASE, WE PRIMARILY TALK ABOUT BACTERIAL INFECTIONS AND VIRAL INFECTIONS.

THEY PRESENT THE SAME WAY BUT THERE ARE SUBTLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO.

THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A PERSON WITH SYMPTOMS TO CONTACT THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER TO HELP THEM SORT OF DISCERN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING BACTERIAL OR SOMETHING VIRAL.

>> WHAT ABOUT FUNGI?

DO THEY TEND TO PRESENT SIMILARLY OR A WHOLE DIFFERENT PRESENTATION?

>> IT CAN, BUT REALLY IT'S KIND OF IN A SEPARATE CATEGORY BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT VIRUSES, BACTERIA AND FUNGI IN A MINUTE BUT CAN ANY OF THESE THINGS CAUSE PROBLEMS ALL YEAR ROUND OR DO THEY TEND TO BE SEASONAL?

>> UNFORTUNATELY THEY CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS ALL YEAR ROUND, HOWEVER, YOU TEND TO SEE CERTAIN TINGES DURING CERTAIN SEASONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU ARE MORE THAN LIKELY TO SEE VIRAL TYPE INFECTIONS DURING THE FALL AND WINTER MONTHS.

NOW YOU CAN SEE BACTERIAL INFECTIONS DURING THAT TIME AS WELL BUT EVEN THEN, YOU HAVE A SEPARATION.

YOU MIGHT SEE WHAT WE CALL GRAM NEGATIVE BACTERIA MORE SO IN THE, LET'S SAY SUMMERTIME VERSUS IN THE FALL AND WINTER TIME, MORE LIKELY TO SEE POSITIVE BACTERIA.

>> LET'S START OFF WITH THE VIRUSES BECAUSE I THINK, FIRST OFF, WHAT IS A VIRUS AND ARE THEY EVERYWHERE?

>> OKAY.

VIRUSES ARE EVERYWHERE.

VIRUSES, UNFORTUNATELY,-- WELL, UNFORTUNATELY FOR US, THEY NEED US TO REPRODUCE THEMSELVES.

THAT IS, THEY CAN REPRODUCE THEMSELVES ONLY WITHIN THE BODY.

THEY SORT OF COMMANDEER OUR MACHINERY THAT WE USE TO REPRODUCE SOME OF OUR OWN CELLS.

IT COMMANDEERS THAT AND MAKE COPIES OF ITSELF.

BACTERIA, UFFER, THEY CAN-- HOWEVER, THEY CAN REPOPULATE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BODY.

SO AGAIN, THESE ARE KIND OF SUBTLE DIFFERENCES.

>> BUT IMPORTANT.

VIRUSES NEED US.

WE ARE AN AGENT FOR THE VIRUS.

>> UNFORTUNATELY.

>> INTERESTING.

CLEVER LITTLE THINGS.

HOW DO WE GET THESE THINGS?

HOW ARE THEY PASSED AROUND, THE VIRUSES FROM PERSON TO PERSON?

>> OKAY, WELL, THE GENERAL TRANSMISSION IS THAT WE SEE MAINLY AEROSOL OR RESPIRATORY TYPE TRANSMISSION.

BUT YOU CAN ALSO HAVE DIRECT INOCULATION AS WELL, TOO.

THAT IS, IF YOU HAVE A SURFACE THAT HAS A VIABLE VIRUS ON IT, IF YOU TOUCH THAT AND IF YOU TOUCH YOUR MUCOUS MEMBRANES SAY YOUR EYES, YOUR NOSE OR YOUR MOUTH, YOU CAN ALSO GET IT THAT WAY.

BUT IN GENERAL, FOR MOST PART, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RESPIRATORY VIRUSES, IT'S USUALLY THROUGH AEROSOL TRANSMISSION.

BUT BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE G.I.

TYPE VIRUSES AS WELL AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU GET MORE THROUGH TOUCHING MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND, YOU KNOW, TOUCHING LIKE YOUR OWN MOUTH, NOSE AND EVEN EYES.

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT SHOW WE HAVE YOU COME BACK WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE GASTROINTESTINAL VIRUSES.

>> OKAY.

>> THE SYMPTOMS.

DOES IT MATTER HOW IT GETS INTO US, BE IT AEROSOL OR DIRECT CONTACT?

DOES THAT AFFECT HOW THE SYMPTOMS PRESENT THEMSELVES?

>> NO, THE SYMPTOMS ARE GENERALLY GOING TO BE THE SAME, YOU KNOW.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS, YOU KNOW, A PERSON USUALLY CAN PRESENT WITH FEVER, MAYBE WATERY EYES, RUNNY KNOWS, COUGHS, SORE THROAT.

THEY USUALLY KIND OF ALL PRESENT PRETTY MUCH THE SAME WAY.

AND THAT'S WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT VIRUSES.

BACTERIA, BELIEVE IT OR NOT CAN PRESENT THE SAME WAY BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN AS FAR AS TIMELINE AND INTENSITY.

>> TYPICALLY SPEAKING, IF A PERSON DOESN'T HAVE SYMPTOMS AND THEY HAVE A VIRAL INFECTION, ARE THEY THEN ABLE TO TRANSMIT THE VIRUS TO SOMEBODY ELSE?

OR DOES IT REQUIRE THEM TO HAVE THE RUNNING NOSE, COUGHING AND SNEEZING?

>> NO, UNFORTUNATELY AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALLOWS FOR VIRUSES, YOU KNOW, TO BE TRANSMITTED FROM PERSON TO PERSON BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES A PERSON WILL BE INFECTED, THEY MAY NOT KNOW IT.

AND UNKNOWINGLY TRANSMIT THE VIRUS.

AND USUALLY ABOUT A DAY OR TWO LATER, AFTER THEY HAVE ACQUIRED IT, IS WHEN THEY START HAVING SYMPTOMS.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE TRANSMISSION OCCURS ABOUT A DAY OR TWO BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY BEGIN TO REALIZE, WAIT A MINUTE, I'VE GOT THESE SYMPTOMS.

OH I MUST BE ILL.

I'VE GOT SOMETHING GOING ON.

>> I MUST ADMIT, I WAS AROUND SOMEONE, DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THEY HAD COVID AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT.

AND ABOUT A DAY LATER, NEXT THING YOU KNOW, BOTH OF US GOT SYMPTOMATIC.

SO I WAS SURPRISED.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON VIRUSES WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT?

>> WELL, THE COMMON ONES ARE, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SEASONAL TYPE THINGS.

AS YOU ARE GOING INTO WHAT I CALL THE RESPIRATORY VIRAL SEASON, THE MORE COMMON ONES ARE LIKE RHINO VIRUSES, BUT THE BIG ONES THAT WE COME-- UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE COME TO KNOW ARE THE COVID VIRUS, OKAY.

AND ALSO RSV,.

>> TELL ME ABOUT RSV, RESPIRATORY SIS STICIAL VIRUS.

WE SEE A LOT OF COMMERCIALS ON THIS.

>> IT IS A VIRUS, A RESPIRATORY TYPE VIRUS.

FOR MOST PEOPLE FOR MOST PEOPLE WITH IN TACT IMMUNE SYSTEMS, IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

BUT THE EXTREME OF AGE, VERY YOUNG OR VERY OLD OR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO HAM THE VIRUS, FOR THEIR BODIES TO REACT AND KILL THE VIRUS.

: IF THEY'RE COUGHING ON A STRUCTURE ARE THEY LIVING OR DEAD IF THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF OUR BODIES?

>> IN GENERAL, THEY DO TEND TO LIVE, DEPENDS ON THE SURFACE.

THEY CAN LIVE FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND IF YOU COME ALONG AND COME IN CONTACT WITH IT AND INOCULATE YOURSELF, TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE OR MOUTH, YOU CAN ACQUIRE THOSE TYPE OF VIRUSES LIKE THAT.

THE BIGGEST WAY IS THROUGH AEROSOLIZATION.

PEOPLE COUGH, YOU HAVE VERY SMALL PARTICLES THAT YOU ACTUALLY INGEST AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY, THROUGH AGAIN THROUGH YOUR LUNGS, THEY CAN SET UP HOUSE AND A PERSON BECOMES INFECTED.

>> SO IT IS CHEAPER TO PREVENT SOMETHING.

HOW CAN I PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION OR ACQUIRING A VIRUS?

>> WELL, SOME VIRUSES YOU CAN DO THAT WITH.

AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT THE COVID VERIZON, THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

-- THE COVID-19 VIRUS IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

VACCINATION IS THE BEST WAY TO HELP PREVENT IT OR AT LEAST AT LEAST MINIMIZE IT AND, AGAIN, THE COVID VACCINE HAS DONE, IT HAS HELPED AVOID COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.

BUT, AGAIN, IT DOES ALLOW FOR THE-- FOR YOUR BODY TO HELP OVERTAKE IT AND EVENTUALLY KILL IT BY LIMITING HOW IT IS REPRODUCED.

>> COMA ABOUT COMMON SENSE THINGS.

HANDWASHING, COVER YOUR HATH AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

>> THAT WE REFERRED TO AT THE TIME, THE PUBLIC HEALTH MITIGATING MEASURES SO THINGS LIKE MAYBE DISTANCING, SOCIAL DISTANCING.

IF SOMEONE IS COUGHING, AND SNEEZING AND HACKING, YOU MIGHT WANT TO STAY A CERTAIN DISTANCE AWAY.

BUT HANDWASHING, PRIMARILY WITH SOAP AND WATER.

BUT YOU CAN USE THE ALCOHOL-BASED RINSES FOR YOUR HANDS.

THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

AND IN SOME CASES, PEOPLE WANT TO WEAR A MASK.

MASKS HAVE SHOWN TO DECREASE TRANSMISSION OF THOSE VIRUSES.

>> WOULD THIS HOLD TRUE FOR RSV VIRUS TOO?

>> YES.

>> COMMONALITY TO IT.

>> YES.

>> SHIFT GEARS IF YOU WOULD.

TELL ME ABOUT BACTERIA.

AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE VIRUSES.

NOW WITH BACTERIA, SAME PRESENTATION?

>> YES, SAME PRESENTATION; HOWEVER, SAME PRESENTATION AND MAYBE A LITTLE MORE INTENSE, OKAY.

THAT IS USUALLY BACTERIA ARE A LITTLE MORE INSIDIOUS IN THEIR PRESENTATION, THAT IS, IT IS USUALLY SOMETHING THAT BEGAN AND IS SORT OF EVOLVES OVER TIME.

AND WHEN YOU DO BECOME SYMPTOMATIC, THE SYMPTOMS ARE MORE SEVERE.

THAT IS WORSENING COUGH, WORSENING FEVER, AND IN THE CASE OF SOMETHING INVOLVING THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM, SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO PRODUCE A LOT MORE MUCOUS.

WHAT WE REFER TO AS SPUDUM.

A LOT MORE OF THAT.

WORSENING SORE THROAT.

AND THOSE THINGS-- NOW I SORT OF HINTED AT THE FACT THAT OUR BODIES, FOR THE MOST PART, HELP DEAL WITH THE VIRUSES AND HELP KILL VIRUS.

WELL, WITH BACTERIA, SOMETIMES IT HAS HAPPENED BUT IN MOST CASES WE NEED HELP WITH ANTIBIOTICS TO HELP TREAT CERTAIN BACTERIA.

>> ANTIBIOTICS ARE NOT USED FOR VIRAL INFECTIONS?

>> THEY DO NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WORK AGAINST VIRUSES.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU SAID WE PROBABLY NEED TO SEEK OUT A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO DISCERN THIS.

HOW DO YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VIRAL AND BACTERIAL INFECTION?

>> A GOOD HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EXAM WILL HELP GUIDE YOU.

AND THEN CERTAIN TESTS WILL HELP SORT OF CONFIRM YOUR DIAGNOSIS OR RULE OUT CERTAIN THINGS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON BACTERIAL INFECTIONS THAT GIVE RISE TO RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS?

>> THE PRIMARY ONES, AND THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY CAUSE THE MOST PROBLEM WILL BE SOMETHING LIKE STREP COCK US PNEUMONIA.

FLU H-FLU CAN DO THAT AS WELL.

WE ARE MORE LIKELY TO SEE STREP PNEUMONIA MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE CAUSING RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAUSES STREP THROAT OR DIFFERENT BACTERIA ALL TOGETHER?

>> THAT'S THE BACTERIA THAT DOES THAT.

AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT BACK TEAR DWRA-- BACTERIA THAT DO IT BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S THE STEP COCKAL GROUP.

>> SO YOU MENTION USING ANTIBACTERIALS.

WHAT ABOUT A LOT OF TIMES THE SYMPTOM, TRYING TO MANAGE THESE THINGS SYMPTOMATICALLY BY DRYING UP THE MUCOUS OR... >> YOU SEE THAT MORE WITH VIRAL TYPE INFECTIONSES BUT CHANCES ARE, BECAUSE OF THE INTENSITY OF THOSE BACTERIA INFECTIONS, PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO SEEK OUT HELP FROM THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER AND ARE MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO BE TREATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS.

>> AGAIN, SOME OF THE WAYS TO PREVENT AND SPREADING INFECTION, SOME OF THE SAME THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT WITH THE VIRUSES,.

>> YES.

HANDWASHING, DISTANCING, AND, BUT HANDWASHING IS REALLY GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THRANS MISSION.

THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED FECAL TRANSMISSION AND IT'S USUALLY FOOD WORKERS THAT WE REALLY SORT OF HARP ON.

THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALWAYS WASHING THEIR HANDS, ESPECIALLY AFTER USING RESTROOM.

>> SURE, SURE.

CHANGING GEARS JUST A BIT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WE DON'T TALK A LOT ABOUT, BUT YET I THINK IS UBIQUITOUS HERE WHERE WE LIVE AND THAT'S FUNGAL INFECTIONS GIVING RISE.

HISTOPLASMOSIS, ASSOCIATED WITH OHIO VALLEY SYNDROME.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> IT IS A FUNGAL INFECTION AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE IN THE OHIO VALLEY, AS YOU SAID.

AND SO THAT TYPE OF INFECTION IS ENDEMIC TO THE AREA HERE.

SO CHANCES ARE EVERYONE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO HISTOPLASMOSIS.

>> REALLY?

>> BUT THE GOOD THING IS, IF YOU HAVE A NORMAL FUNCTIONING IMMUNE SYSTEM, FOR MOST PART, HIS TOE PLACES MOSES-- HISTOPLASMOSIS SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM.

YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE TYPE OF HISTOPLASMOSIS INFECTION YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD.

>> SEEMS LIKE IT TENDS TO CAUSE A LOT OF CONFUSION BECAUSE OF THE NODULES WE SEE ON CHEST X-RAYS, CONFUSES EVERYBODY.

>> THAT'S ACTUALLY THE HEALING OF THE HISTOPLASMOSIS THAT YOUR BODY HAS DONE.

>> SO WE MAY HAVE BEEN INFECTED AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY REALIZE IT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> ARE THERE ANY SYMPTOMS THAT WE WILL SEE WITH THIS IF YOU DO HAVE PROBLEMS?

>> STILL THE SAME GENERAL TYPE SYMPTOMS: FEVERS, MAYBE CHILLS, HEADACHE, COUGH, AND IN SOME CASES PEOPLE MY MIGHT HAVE A RASH SOBERED WITH IT TOO, IN SOME CASES.

>> A DISEASE WHICH, YOU KNOW, AROUND HERE WE HAD THE WAVERLY SANITARIUM AND OTHER PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WOULD GO IF THEY HAD TUBERCULOSIS.

IS THAT GONE AWAY?

IS THAT COMING BACK?

OR TELL ME BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY SCARES EVERYBODY.

>> WELL, TUBERCULOSISSINGS HERE-- TUBERCULOSIS IS HERE.

IT HAS NOT GONE ANYWHERE.

SORT OF GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS THINGS.

IF WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF TUBERCULOSIS, LET'S SAY FROM THE 1900s, OKAY.

SO AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD A LOT OF CASES BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TREATMENT, NO CURE FOR IT.

AND I THINK THESE STATISTICS WILL BEAR OUT, YOU HAD ANYWHERE MAYBE 194 TO 200 CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE.

AT THAT TIME.

AND THEN IT ACTUALLY SORT OF DECREASED WHEN YOU GOT TO THE MID 40S, DECREASED TO LIKE 40 CASES PER 100,000.

AND THEN OVER THE YEARS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DISCOVERY OF INH, THE INITIAL TREATMENT FOR TUBERCULOSIS, AND IT ACTUALLY DECREASED FOR SEVERAL YEARS, ALL THE WAY UNTIL WILL 1980S.

NOW I BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE OF AIDS H.I.V.

THAT WE ALSO BEGAN TO SEE A REBOUND OR AN UPTICK OF IT AGAIN AT THAT TIME.

BUT SINCE ABOUT 1990 OR SO, IT ACTUALLY STARTED TO DECREASE AGAIN.

AND OF COURSE NOW THAT IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD MORE DRUGS FOR TUBERCULOSIS AND ALSO IT WAS BETTER INSTITUTIONAL TYPE CONTROL; THAT IS, THEY WOULD REALIZE WHAT THEY HAD AND PUT PEOPLE IN ISOLATION AND SORT OF HELP DECREASE TRANSMISSION IN THAT KIND OF WAY.

ALL THAT DID FINE UP UNTIL ABOUT -- WELL, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

SINCE 2021, UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY ON THE RISE AGAIN, AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF COURSE, MASKS CAME OFF AND WE ARE HAVING MORE RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES PER SE.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE HAD THE RISE OF WHAT WE CALL DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS.

BUT OVERALL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE U.S.

VERSUS THE WORLD, OVERALL, WE STILL HAVE EXTREMELY LOW RATES.

>> YOU MENTION ABOUT THE DRUG RESISTANCE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS EVERYBODY BECAUSE IF YOU GET A DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS, IT CAN CAUSE TROUBLE?

>> YES, IT CAN POTENTIALLY.

THAT'S WHY ANTIBIOTICS REALLY NEED TO BE USED VERY JUDICIOUSLY.

>> IS THERE A REBOUND EFFECT YOU SEE AFTER TREATING SOMEBODY WITH TUBERCULOSIS?

>> NOT THAT I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN.

FIRST OF ALL, THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO BE TREATING, NOT SO MUCH ACTIVE T.B.

BUT LATENT TUBERCULOSIS.

>> SOMEBODY MAY HAVE THE DISEASE BUT IT'S SIMMERING AROUND AND THEY MAY NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT BECAUSE THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM, IF IT IS IN TACT, IT IS GOING TO HELP SORT OF KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL OR PUT IT IN JAIL SO TO SPEAK.

>> GOTCHA.

I THOUGHT THIS DISEASE WAS GONE, MEASLES, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE COMING BACK.

NOW WE OFTEN TIMES DON'T THINK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW ABOUT THE SKIN RASHES AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING BUT IT'S ALSO A RESPIRATORY TRACT PROBLEM, ISN'T IT?

>> OH YEAH MEASLES CAN, IT ACTUALLY-- THAT'S USUALLY HOW IT IS OBTAINED THROUGH RESPIRATORY DROPLETS, IT IS HIGHLY, HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS.

>> REALLY?

>> YES, YES.

AND STATISTICS WILL TELL YOU, AND I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY HEARD STORIES, IF YOU HAVE A PERSON THAT IS IN A ROOM WITH MEASLES, THAT PERSON LEAVES THE ROOM.

OKAY, YOU GET PEOPLE THAT COME IN THE ROOM WITHIN A TWO-HOUR PERIOD.

YOU HAVE 10 PEOPLE COME IN, NINE OUT OF THOSE 10 WILL GET INFECTED WITH THE MEASLES VIRUS.

>> REALLY?

WOW.

IT HANGS AROUND AND CAN BE PASSED ON.

>> AND IT TAKES SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT FOR A PERSON TO GET INFECTED AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO HIGHLY, HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO I GOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.

WHERE ARE WE WITH VACCINATIONS FOR, THE THINGS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT RSV, COVID, MEASLES?

>> WELL, THERE ARE VACCINES AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THOSE.

I DON'T HAVE STATISTICS RIGHT OFFHAND.

THE TREND HAS BEEN INCREASING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE HAVE AVOIDED GETTING VACCINATED.

SEVERAL REASONS WHY SOME RELIGIOUS, SOME POLITICAL, BUT THE VACCINES ARE STILL AVAILABLE AND ARE STILL SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

>> SO WE THINK ABOUT OUR FIRST LINE FOR TREATMENT OR PREVENTION , VACCINES, PARTICULARLY WITH MEASLES.

AGAIN, YOU DON'T HAVE MEASLES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE ARE NOT GETTING VACCINATIONS.

AND AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS AND WE SEE THIS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THEY'RE ASSOCIATED BUT SURE SEEMS THAT WAY.

>> THE MEASLES-- WELL, THE MEASLES MUMPS RUBELLA, MMR VACCINE IS VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE.

ONE DOSE IS 93% EFFECTIVE.

TWO DOSES ABOUT 97% EFFECTIVE AND IT DOES PROVIDE LIFE LONG IMMUNITY.

>> WHAT IS BEST WAY SOMEONE SHOULD COUGH?

WHAT DO DO YOU WHEN YOU COUGH?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> THE BEST WAY IS NO TO THE COUGH AT ALL IF YOU CAN.

BUT IF HAVE YOU TO, IT'S BEST TO COVER YOUR MOUTH.

>> WITH WHAT?

YOUR HAND OR DO YOU COUGH INTO YOUR ELBOW?

>> THE ONGOING THOUGHT NOW IS TO COUGH INTO YOUR SLEEVE AND THE REASON YOU DO THAT IS BECAUSE IF YOU COUGH INTO YOUR HANDS, THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU DO WITH YOUR HANDS.

SO REALLY YOU ARE JUST TAKING THE VIRUS, WHEN YOU COUGH IN YOUR HANDS, YOU ARE TAKING THE VIRUS AND PUTTING IT ON THE SURFACES THAT WE SORT OF TALKED ABOUT.

>> I HAVE TO ADMIT, IF I SEE SOMEBODY COUGHING INTO THEIR HANDS, I'M NOT SHAKING THEIR HANDS.

I DON'T WANT TO BE NEAR THEM.

IN THE COLD AND FLU SEASONS ARE YOU A HAND SHAKER OR DO YOU-- >> FIST BUMPER.

>> FIST BUMPER.

>> JUST GIVE THEM A DAP, THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH.

>> SO WHAT ARE THE BIG TAKE HOME POINTS THAT YOU THINK WE SHOULD KNOW AND REMEMBER ABOUT UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS AS FAR AS WHATEVER YOU THINK?

WHAT ARE THE BIG TAKE HOME POINTS YOU WANT TO US HAVE?

>> FOR ME, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IF YOU ARE ILL, YOU SHOULD STAY HOME, OKAY?

AND CONTACT YOUR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER BECAUSE THE ILLNESS, BETWEEN VIRUSES AND BACTERIA FOR THE LAY PERSON, IS HARD TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE.

>> YES.

>> THAT'S WHY THEY NEED TO TALK WITH THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER WHO WILL HELP.

IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS TRULY BACTERIAL, IT CAN BE TREATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS.

NOW THERE ARE SOME ANTIVIRALS THAT CAN BE USED BUT IT'S USUALLY FOR SOMETHING LIKE COVID-19.

BUT FOR MOST OTHER VIRUSES, IT'S PAINLY SORT OF SUPPORTIVE CARE.

THAT IS REST, HYDRATION, CONTROLLING FEVER.

THAT IS USUALLY THE RECIPE FOR TREATMENT FOR THAT.

BUT AGAIN, TO REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE, DO I HAVE A VIRUS, A BACTERIA?

AND IF I DO HAVE A VIRUS, DO I HAVE COVID?

DO I HAVE COMMON COLD?

AGAIN, ALL THIS, THEY HAVE TO BE TESTED.

AND ALL THIS CAN BE DONE THROUGH THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER.

>> IF A PERSON IS SICK FOR MORE THAN A DAY OR TWO, SEE SOMEBODY?

OR EVEN SOONER THAN THAT?

>> WELL, I SAY STAY HOME AND THEN IF YOU ARE NOT ANY BETTER, DEFINITELY-- OR YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE GETTING WORSE, THEN ALWAYS CONTACT-- YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTACT YOUR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER ANY TIME.

THEY WILL GIVE YOU GUIDANCE WHAT TO DO.

IF THEY FEEL YOU NEED SORT OF WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, OR IF YOU NEED TO COME IN AND BE TREATED, IT'S UP TO THEM.

>> AND IF THEY CAN'T REACH THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER, I MAKE SURE THEY HAVE YOUR HOME PHONE NUMBER SO THEY CAN GIVE YOU A CALL AND GET THE THING.

Dr.

BURNS, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE HAVING YOU HERE AND TELLING US A LITTLE BIT, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT THINGS, VIRUSES, BACTERIA FUNGI AND OTHER THINGS THAT CAUSE US PROBLEMS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SYMPTOMS OF UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS, HOW THEY ARE TRANSMITTED AND WAYS THAT WE CAN USE TO MINIMIZE OUR RISK FOR BECOMING INFECTED.

IF YOU WISH TO WATCH THIS SHOW AGAIN OR AN ARCHIVED VERSION OF PAST SHOWS PLEASE GO TO WWW.ket.org/HEALTH.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT ABOUT THIS OR OTHER SHOWS WE CAN WITHIN REACHED AT KYHEALTH@ket.org.

IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU FEEL LIKE HAVE YOU AN ILLNESS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR PRIMARY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE AN UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION, STAY HOME.

DON'T SPREAD IT AROUND TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

AND LET'S TRY TO FOLLOW SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

COUGH INTO YOUR SLEEVE IF YOU MUST.

AND STAY AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK ON "KENTUCKY HEALTH."

>> "KENTUCKY HEALTH" IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY.