Alarm Bells Ring As Respiratory Infection Soars
U.S. health officials announced on Thursday that whooping cough cases have reached their highest levels in a decade for this time of year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a total of 18,506 cases so far, marking the highest figure for this period since 2014, when cases exceeded 21,800. Experts explain that such increases are typical, as whooping cough tends to peak every three to five years. This rise also reflects a return to pre-pandemic levels, during which contagious diseases like whooping cough had significantly declined.
Concerns have arisen among state health officials, particularly in Wisconsin, where approximately 1,000 cases have been reported this year compared to just 51 last year. Nationwide, the CDC has noted a drop in vaccination rates among kindergartners, with exemptions reaching an all-time high. Recent state figures reveal that around 86% of kindergartners in Wisconsin received the whooping cough vaccine, in contrast to over 92% at the national level.
Whooping cough, known as pertussis, typically begins with cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose, before developing into a severe, prolonged cough. It can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Historically, whooping cough was widespread until the introduction of the vaccine in the 1950s, which is now part of routine childhood immunizations alongside tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. The combination vaccine is recommended for adults every decade. Joyce Knestrick, a family nurse practitioner in Wheeling, West Virginia, noted that whooping cough was often referred to as the “100-day cough” due to its extended duration.
Although whooping cough primarily affects infants and young children, leading to serious complications, this year’s outbreaks have also impacted older children and teenagers. In Pennsylvania, most cases have occurred in middle schools, high schools, and college campuses. In Douglas County, Nebraska, nearly all reported cases involve school-aged children and teens, according to Justin Frederick, deputy director of the health department. He shared that his own teenage daughter has been severely affected, struggling with persistent coughing even after antibiotic treatment.
Early testing and antibiotic treatment are crucial for managing whooping cough, emphasizes Dr. Kris Bryant, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Norton Children’s in Louisville, Kentucky. Individuals exposed to the bacteria can also receive antibiotics to prevent further transmission. “Pertussis is worth preventing,” Bryant asserted, adding that safe and effective vaccines are available to protect against the disease.
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