Whooping cough, known as pertussis, is on the rise, according to the Fairfax Health District. Word of the increase in Fairfax, statewide, and nationwide comes as kids head back to school, and the district is encouraging people to get vaccinated.
The illness, caused by bacteria, is spread when someone coughs or sneezes. The bacteria attach to cilia in the upper respiratory system and release toxins that damage the hair-like extensions and cause airways to swell, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
The Fairfax Health District said pertussis spreads more easily when people share space and spend time together. The CDC said it can spread for at least two weeks after the coughing begins.
It may seem like a common cold, with symptoms of either a stuffed up or runny nose, low fever, and mild cough. It lasts a week or two but the coughing fits may linger weeks to months.
A person with pertussis makes a whooping sound as he breathes in after a coughing fit. Babies may gasp for air and turn blue when they experience apnea. Often, they need hospital care. Others at high risk are those with asthma or weakened immune systems.
The health district said in addition to the coughing fits, those with whooping cough:
- May vomit during or after coughing fits;
- Feel tired after the fit, but seem well in-between fits;
- Have trouble sleeping;
- Struggle to breathe;
- End up with rib fractures from coughing too hard.
Whooping cough is typically treated with antibiotics.
The best prevention method, according to the health district, is to get DTaP and Tdap vaccinations, which also protect against tetanus and diptheria.
Here’s the vaccination schedule the health district recommends.
- Children should get five doses of DTaP, including at least one dose on or after their 4th birthday.
- Preteen ages 11 to 12 years should get a booster dose of Tdap before they start 7th grade.
- Adults should get a booster dose of Tdap every 10 years and during every pregnancy.
Feature image by Pixel-Shot/stock.adobe.com
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