Whooping Cough Is Back — And It’s Not Just a Kid Problem 😷
Pertussis, better known as whooping cough, is making a comeback.
For a while, cases dropped during the pandemic. Fewer people were out and about, fewer germs were spreading, and pertussis stayed quieter.
That has changed.
Cases have been rising again, and this matters because pertussis is highly contagious. It spreads through respiratory droplets when someone coughs or sneezes, and people can spread it before they realize it is anything more than a cold.
That is part of the problem.
Pertussis does not always start with the dramatic “whoop” people think of. Early symptoms may look like a regular cold: congestion, low-grade fever, and a mild cough, but as it progresses, the coughing can become intense.
Coughing fits may lead to vomiting, exhaustion, difficulty sleeping, trouble breathing, or even rib injury. And the cough can linger for weeks. Charming little bug, isn’t it?
For babies, pertussis can be especially dangerous. Infants may not cough at all. Instead, they may have pauses in breathing, trouble feeding, or turn blue from lack of oxygen. Babies, people with weakened immune systems, and those with asthma or COPD are at higher risk for serious complications.
What Are the Symptoms of Pertussis?
Pay attention if someone has:
A cough that keeps getting worse
Coughing fits that are hard to stop
Vomiting after coughing
Trouble breathing
Extreme fatigue after coughing
A cough that lasts longer than expected
Known exposure to someone with pertussis
If pertussis is suspected, this is not a “wait and see for a few more weeks” situation. Testing and antibiotics may be needed, especially to protect vulnerable people nearby.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides additional information about pertussis symptoms, testing, and treatment.
Why the Pertussis Vaccine Matters 💉
Pertussis protection fades over time, which means being vaccinated once years ago may not be enough.
Children receive DTaP as part of their routine vaccine schedule. Preteens and adults may need a Tdap booster, especially if they have never had one.
Pregnant women are recommended to receive Tdap during each pregnancy, usually in the early part of the third trimester. This helps protect the baby before the baby is old enough to receive their own vaccines.
There is also something called a cocooning strategy. That means making sure the people around a vulnerable infant are up to date on their pertussis vaccine.
That includes parents, siblings, grandparents, caregivers, and other close family members.
In plain English: if you are going to be breathing near a newborn, check your vaccine status. Tiny humans do not need your germs as a welcome gift. 👶
Families can review the CDC’s current whooping cough vaccination recommendations, including information about the Tdap and DTaP vaccines.
Why Whooping Cough Is Not Just a Childhood Illness
Pertussis is one of those illnesses where prevention and early recognition matter.
The person with the cough may recover just fine.
The baby, older adult with lung disease, or immunocompromised family member exposed to that cough may not.
So ask the question. Check the vaccine record. Call the provider when symptoms do not make sense. And do not assume “just a cough” is always just a cough.
Another respiratory illness that should not be dismissed as “just a cold” is RSV in adults, especially for older adults and people with chronic health conditions.
Need Help Sorting Out Vaccines, Symptoms, or What Questions to Ask?
That is exactly what Ask the Advocate is for.
In one focused session, we can review the concern, talk through who may be at risk, identify what needs to be asked, and help you decide the next best step.
Sometimes protecting your family starts with asking better questions.
Ask the Advocate gives you a place to start. 💛
Schedule an Ask the Advocate session. 👉 Ask the Advocate
✨ Stay confident. Stay informed. Stay Taylormade.
Cheers!
Dr. T