WellSpan pediatricians are seeing an increase in the spread of whooping cough. It is important that parents and those who care for children know how to spot this bacterial infection so they can obtain treatment for children if they need it.

What is it? 

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness often affecting young children.  Infants less than 6 months old and children who are not up to date on their routine vaccinations are most at risk.   

Thick mucus accumulates inside the airways, causing uncontrollable coughing attacks. Oftentimes, there will be a distinctive “whoop” sound when breathing in, leading to the name for the infection.

Cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, are on the rise in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In October of this year, the number of cases in the U.S. was five times greater than the same time last year.  Pennsylvania has experienced a ten-fold increase in cases in the same timeframe. 

“We want parents to know it is important for children that the best protection against whooping cough is to be vaccinated,” says Dr. Christopher Russo, WellSpan medical director of pediatric services. 

Dr. Russo encourages parents to be vigilant and informed about whooping cough, its symptoms, and treatment.

Signs and symptoms 

Symptoms of the virus can vary, depending on a person’s age and if they’ve been vaccinated. At first, symptoms tend to resemble those of a common cold which could include the following: 

• Mild cough
• Fever
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes

Symptoms can worsen after a week or two and coughing becomes more prominent.  This phase can last up to 3 months. In the final phase, as the person is getting better, the cough decreases in frequency and severity. This phase can last another 3 months.   

Treatments 

Prevention is the best treatment. Infants will receive a vaccination to protect against pertussis at their 2-month, 4-month, and 6-month visits. Additionally, pregnant mothers will often be vaccinated during pregnancy to protect their babies once they are born. 

There is no medication to treat whooping cough.  However, if caught early, antibiotics can reduce the risk of spreading the disease to others.  

When to see a physician 

Call your primary care provider if coughing spells cause your child to vomit, turn red or blue, have difficulty breathing, or inhale with a whooping sound.

Learn more about how to receive care, via a virtual on-demand, walk-in urgent care, or other avenues, at www.wellspan.org/getcarenow.