West Wake News

Pertussis, commonly referred to as whooping cough, is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs and spreads easily from person to person. The infection tends to peak during the fall and winter months when people are more likely to be indoors in close proximity.

Vaccination against whooping cough begins at two months of age, with the final dose administered during adolescence. However, Dr. Helton has noted a decline in vaccination rates recently. "That may be why the trend in whooping cough is going up," she stated. Dr. Helton emphasized that adults and pregnant women should receive booster vaccinations even if they completed the initial series.

For adolescents and healthy adults, pertussis might not pose significant issues, with some individuals unaware they have it. In contrast, young children and infants can suffer severe symptoms leading to hospitalization or death. "The younger the child, the more vulnerable they are," said Dr. Helton.

Whooping cough often begins with cold-like symptoms but progresses into strong coughing fits characterized by shortness of breath and a high-pitched whooping sound as children try to breathe. These intense episodes can result in vomiting or cause skin discoloration around the mouth due to oxygen deprivation.

Dr. Helton advised parents to seek medical attention for their child if a cough persists beyond a week or only after a few days for very young children. "Whooping cough is treatable with antibiotics if you catch it early," she mentioned, adding that prompt treatment reduces symptom severity and transmission risk.

Parents should take their child to see a pediatrician immediately if exposed to someone with whooping cough or closely monitor their symptoms if exposure is uncertain. "If they're showing any signs of distress, difficulty breathing, fever, color changes, lethargy, irritability, or dehydration they need to be seen by a doctor," said Dr. Helton.

Concerned parents are encouraged to contact their pediatrician's office for guidance on their child's symptoms. Duke patients have the option of asking questions through My Duke Health or requesting video visits for home assessments.