HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Whooping cough cases are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with around five times as many cases than last fall.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a very common illness, especially during cold and flu season.
“It is a concern, it is on our radar, because nationwide there is an increase,” said Dr. Leigh Ann Levine, clinical officer for infectious disease at Valley Health.
Levine says pertussis effects your upper airways causing a deep painful cough. It develops in phases, starting out with the same symptoms as a common cold.
“Low grade fever, the congestion and cough,” she said. “That can last two-three weeks. This is the most contagious phase.
If left untreated, it can develop into deep, mucus-y cough that can last for months.
“It can be treated with antibiotics, so we can prevent the development of the other phases early on,” Levine said.
It’s important to be seen by provider if a cough sticks around and becomes deeper. Levine says key to prevent or minimize the symptoms of whooping cough is to get yourself and your child vaccinated.
“I cannot emphasize enough, the pediatric and infant vaccines,” she said.
Levine says more families have been rejecting vaccines, which could be contributing to the climbing rate of whooping cough.
Whooping cough is the most serious among infants, the elderly and those with low immune symptoms.
Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.