Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is spreading across Arizona, with cases at their highest levels since 2013, according to data from the Arizona Department of Health Services, which reports 591 cases as of mid-November.

We’re seeing common pre-pandemic illnesses return with a bit of a vengeance,” said Dr. Michael Koster, of Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence.

Massachusetts public health officials are also monitoring an increase in walking pneumonia in recent weeks, particularly among children and young adults. According to the CDC, common symptoms of the illness include cough, fever, headache, and fatigue.

Characterized by a high fever, cough, sore throat, headache and fatigue, walking pneumonia diagnosis in local emergency rooms jumped fourfold from Oct. 19 to Nov. 2, spiking from 0.2% to 0.8% of all diagnoses for children aged 2 to 4. A similar jump, though not quite so high, was observed for children and adolescents aged 5 to 17.

It’s Parenting Connection Tuesday and 6 News is here for you with tips, strategies, and helpful reminders from child development experts on how we can be better parents and guardians. Today’s topic: Walking pneumonia and whooping cough.

The public health department has warned local doctors that the region is in the midst of a significant increase in walking pneumonia cases, especially among children age 2 to 4. Whooping cough