Cases of whooping cough are more than three times higher this year than they were at the same time last year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The number of cases is closer to the 8,271 cases of whooping cough recorded this time in 2019, indicating a return to pre-pandemic levels.
Infected people can be contagious for weeks without knowing they have whooping cough.
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics and receiving treatment early can reduce the severity of the infection.
Frenck said the increase in whooping cough cases are a reminder that vaccines are effective, but said he doesn’t discourage vaccine-hesitant patents from asking questions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the number of whooping cough cases this year is more than three times higher than it was at the same time last year.
10,865 cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, have been reported so far this year, according to CDC data, compared to 2,918 cases reported at the same time in 2023.
There seems to be a return to pre-pandemic levels as the number of cases is closer to the 8,271 cases of whooping cough that were reported at this time in 2019.
Physicians noted that over the past few years, fewer cases of whooping cough have been reported than usual. This is probably because of COVID-19 mitigation strategies like mask wearing, remote learning, and social distancing.
During the pandemic, there was a low point in pertussis transmission, which Dr. Mike Patrick, an emergency medicine physician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, told ABC News was caused by social distancing and isolation. Because the disease is contagious and spreads from person to person, children cannot contract it if they are not around adults or other children. “.”.
“So, I believe that the reason we’re just rising again is that people are returning to their regular activities, and that’s just the pattern that our vaccine has shown us. “But I will say that, in the absence of the vaccine, we would see far more cases of pertussis than 10,000,” he continued.
Dr. The rise in whooping cough cases following the pandemic is comparable to what has been observed in the United States, according to Lori Handy, an attending physician in the infectious diseases division at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. S. as mitigating measures began to run out with other illnesses.
Given that we lifted a number of measures almost two years ago, she told ABC News, “I honestly think it was a little surprising that it took this long.”. “I believe a lot of people recall the spike in RSV cases that occurred in 2022; therefore, this infection has not been as prevalent as some other respiratory infections. However, it has now returned and appears to be quite typical of 2019.”. “.
The highly contagious respiratory disease known as whooping cough is brought on by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria.
These bacteria cling to the cilia, which are microscopic hair-like projections on the surface of some cells in the upper respiratory tract and aid in the removal of mucus and other debris from the airways as well as the release of toxins. As per the CDC, the toxins cause swelling of the upper airways and harm the cilia.
Patrick explained, “Your body resorts to coughing to try to keep stuff out of the lungs and to bring things up. You get airway swelling and a terrible, terrible cough because the cilia aren’t working.”. Babies frequently have mild respiratory difficulties. The name “whooping cough” comes from the sound that occurs when someone coughs violently. They cough and then take a deep, long breath because they haven’t breathed in a while. “.
When someone coughs or sneezes, they can infect someone else with whooping cough. People who have the whooping cough virus can spread the illness for weeks without realizing it.
The initial symptoms, which usually last one to two weeks, are runny nose, cough, and low-grade fever, just like in a regular cold. But as the condition worsens, coughing fits that are severe and quick can continue for up to 12 weeks.
Antibiotics are a treatment option for whooping cough, and starting treatment early can lessen the infection’s severity. As per the CDC, the majority of whooping cough symptoms can be handled at home.
Pertussis can afflict anyone, but the risk of severe illness is highest in pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, and infants under one year of age.
“Apnea is a condition in which younger children, and particularly infants, stop breathing. Children can and have died from pertussis, and they can be admitted to the intensive care unit,” Dr. Robert Frenck, a pediatrician in the infectious diseases division at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio, told ABC News. Therefore, these are not harmless infections. They have the potential to be lethal and extremely serious. “.
Since the introduction of the whooping cough vaccine in the late 1940s, the annual number of cases has sharply decreased, falling by more than 90% when compared to the pre-vaccine period.
According to the CDC, before the vaccine, there were up to 9,000 child deaths and an estimated 200,000 cases among children annually.
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine for adults, older children, and pregnant women, and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine for babies and children under the age of seven are the two types of vaccines currently used to prevent whooping cough.
According to a recent CDC report, kindergarten students’ exemptions from routine childhood vaccinations—including the DTaP vaccine—were at an all-time high in the 2022–2023 school year. Although Frenck stated he doesn’t discourage vaccine-hesitant patients from asking questions, he did note that the rise in whooping cough cases serves as a reminder of the effectiveness of vaccines.
He said, “Parents want to keep their children healthy because they want to do what’s best for them.”. “People are confused because there has been a fair amount of misinformation about vaccines, which is unfortunate. It is therefore highly advised that you have a conversation with your healthcare provider, feel comfortable having your children vaccinated, ask questions, and receive answers. Immunizations are safe, effective, and have undergone extensive testing. “.
According to Handy, she also exhorts all eligible individuals to receive vaccinations and advises medical professionals to keep an eye out for cases of pertussis.
For those who provide healthcare, dot. acknowledge this was around five years ago, and the only way to find it is to test for it before utilizing our public health protocols to stop its spread,” the speaker stated.
