A nationwide whooping cough surge has infected nearly 2,200 Pennsylvanians, outpacing every other state and putting local medical experts on high alert.
The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified more than 16,000 cases of whooping cough this year, more than four times as many as the same time last year, as well as two deaths.
Pennsylvania has seen a tenfold increase in cases of this rarely fatal, but highly contagious, bacterial illness.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is named for its characteristic “whoop” noise when someone gasps for air after what’s often a violent, uncontrolled coughing fit.
Dr. Joseph Aracri, system chair of pediatrics at Allegheny Health Network, partly attributes the rise to declining vaccination rates — a nationwide phenomenon across all immunizations, not just for pertussis, that has been measured by the CDC and other health organizations.
“A lot of times, vaccine hesitancy is just from mistrust or misunderstanding of the vaccines or how vaccines work,” he said.
CDC scientists also ascribe the declines to missed appointments during pandemic lockdowns.
Aracri often reminds families, “The best prevention to secure the health of your child is to make sure they’re fully vaccinated.”
But immunization rates are high in Pennsylvania and have little to do with this year’s outbreak, according to the state Health Department.
Spokesperson Neil Ruhland said pertussis infections spike every two to five years, making this “a normal occurrence.”
State data shows an overwhelming majority of school-age kids are vaccinated against whooping cough, including 95% of kindergartners.
“Vaccination rates for whooping cough have remained relatively unchanged from year to year,” Ruhland added.
Allegheny County spokesperson Abigail Gardner seconded Ruhland, noting the disease’s cyclical spread and steadily high vaccination rates in the county.
She also said cases have been declining over the past few weeks.
Vaccination and treatment
The Pennsylvania Department of Health recommends children receive four doses of the pertussis shot before age 2, followed by a booster between ages 4 and 6 and again at 11 or 12. Each of these also includes tetanus and diphtheria protection.
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Pregnant women should receive the vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks’ gestation, and all adults should be staying up to date with a booster every 10 years.
While babies and young children are at the greatest risk for complications and death, it takes all ages to limit the spread of pertussis, Aracri explained.
“The immunity wanes as you get older,” he said. “The grandparents are spreading it to the kids, and not so much the kids are spreading it to themselves. So, for that reason, all the adults need to be boosted as well.”
Occurs in 3 phases
Whooping cough comes in three phases, according to Aracri.
Initial symptoms often mimic a common cold and last about a week to 10 days, followed by four to six weeks of the characteristic cough. Finally, a chronic cough sets in and can take up to six months to resolve.
If caught in the the first phase, Aracri said, it’s highly treatable with antibiotics. After that, doctors can’t do much other than let the bacteria run its course.
“If you are in close contact with someone who has whooping cough — close contact meaning you live in the same house as them or in school you sit at the same table or desk as them … then you can get an antibiotic to prevent you from catching it,” he noted.
And if a baby is coughing so much they’re unable to drink or catch their breath — even turning blue — it’s time to call a primary care provider or go to the emergency room.
Bottom line for kids and adults: “If you notice a whoop, just call your provider,” Aracri said.