Whooping cough (pertussis) infection is continuously increasing In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates more than 17,600 cases as of October 5.
This is an increase of more than 340% compared to the 3,962 cases reported last October.
Before the pandemic, cases typically exceeded 10,000 per year, rising to 18,600 in 2019.
After the pandemic, diagnoses of whooping cough decreased, with only 2,100 cases reported in 2021.
The 10 states with the most cumulative (year to date) cases include Pennsylvania (2,209), New York (1,228), Illinois (1,153), California (1,123), Wisconsin (903), Washington (844), Ohio (814) . ), Texas (676), Oregon (546), Arizona (491).
What is the reason for the boom?
One theory for the spike is that cases declined rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as mask-wearing, social distancing and other infection protocols helped protect against whooping cough.
“They’re increasing more now because our immune system is exposed to viruses and bacteria that we haven’t,” said Dr. Mark Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. Have seen and are slow to respond.” Fox News Digital was first told.
Whooping cough outbreaks typically occur when there are populations with low vaccination rates, Katy Dubinsky, a New York pharmacist and CEO and co-founder of Vitalize, a private supplement company, previously told Fox News Digital.
“Pertussis is highly contagious, and in areas where herd immunity is not strong due to inadequate vaccination, the disease can spread more easily,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Additionally, immunity from vaccines or previous infection wanes over time, which may also contribute to outbreaks.”
What is whooping cough?
A highly contagious respiratory tract infection, pertussis gets its more common name, “whooping cough”, from the severe hacking cough it causes in some people.
According to the Mayo Clinic, apart from a cough, early symptoms are similar to those of a cold — including nasal congestion, runny nose, fever and red, watery eyes.
Symptoms get worse over time, often leading to severe and uncontrollable coughing attacks that end with a “whooping” sound after the patient stops breathing due to a buildup of mucus in the airways, the same source noted.
“This is an underappreciated problem, and a good reason I’m routinely giving Tdap vaccines to my adult patients,” Siegel told Fox News Digital on Friday.
Tdap is a combination of three vaccines that protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis infections in adolescents and adults.
“The vaccine works — and it lasts for three to five years,” Siegel said. “Everyone should get the latest vaccination.”
While the vaccine protects children from serious disease, infants too young to be vaccinated are at greatest risk.
“This disease is especially problematic in young children, because they have less developed airways,” warns Siegel.
It is recommended that pregnant women get the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy, as it helps protect the newborn until they receive their vaccination.
When to seek medical help
Experts recommend that because of the potential severity in young infants and people with weakened immune systems, it is important to seek medical attention if whooping cough is suspected.
“Unfortunately, the diagnosis is often missed because a dry cough can be mistaken for a virus,” Siegel said.
Adults may be treated with doxycycline, a type of antibiotic that stops the growth and spread of bacteria.
According to Siegel, azithromycin is a common treatment for children.
“The situation becomes dangerous when there is a severe cough that causes difficulty breathing, vomiting or interferes with normal breathing in infants,” Dubinsky said.
Apart from giving antibiotics, it is important to manage the symptoms, especially in severe cases, he said.
“This may include hospitalization of infants or people with severe symptoms to monitor and treat complications.”
According to CDC data, approximately 160,000 children under the age of 5 die from pertussis each year globally, and there are 24 million cases annually.
(TagstoTranslate)US news(T)diseases(T)epidemics(T)public health
