Painful Illness With Chronic Cough Sickening ID, WA, and UT Kids

An illness that causes body aches, chronic coughing, sore throat, and clogged nasal passages is making the rounds in states across the Pacific Northwest.

A trip to the local emergency room Monday afternoon provided some nurse feedback regarding the flu-like symptoms in my child that turned out to be neither COVID, Influenza, nor a lung or sinus infection.

What is Causing Kids to Have Chronic Cough in UT, WA, and ID?

The illness affecting area kids was described by a nurse we spoke to as 'widespread'.

The symptoms for my nine-year-old began several days ago. It started with excessive sinus problems that included dark mucus and constant sneezing, and then escalated into a chronic cough (more than two days), scratchy throat, and lower back discomfort; a fever has been the only symptom that hasn't surfaced (knock on wood).

Earlier this year, bouts of rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were causing kids to miss school and swept throughout Twin Falls County.

Following a chest x-ray, breathing test, multiple nose swabs for the flu and COVID, an albuterol breathing apparatus, all vitals being monitored for nearly two hours, we went home with the little guy just before 5:30 P.M.

READ MORE: Unidentified Chronic Illness Sickening Idaho Kids

Is RSV the Cause of the Chronic Cough in Our Kids?

What was the official diagnosis, you might ask? We still haven't gotten one, but prescriptions were filled out (albuterol, azithromycin, dexamethasone) that have appeared to help our boy. The illness affecting area kids was described by a nurse we spoke to as 'widespread'. A 'possible bacterial infection' was also hypothesized but not confirmed.

I wish to thank the wonderful staff at our local hospital for taking great care of my son.