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Whooping cough has been on the rise in the United States for months, and data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows no signs of abating.
More than 32,000 cases have been registered so far this year. Data From the middle of December – about six times more than at this time last year and more Since 2014.
Whooping cough, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. For many, the bacterial infection begins with flu-like symptoms — runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and tickling — but a painful, full-body cough can develop a week or two later. These coughing fits are so severe that they can cause patients to faint or break ribs, and are often accompanied by a hoarse voice as the person struggles to catch their breath.
This cough can last for weeks or months, and people can transmit the infectious bacteria for weeks after a cough occurs. However, the infection can be so mild for some that they pass the disease on without knowing they have it.
As with other respiratory illnesses, cases of whooping cough have dropped to low levels during the outbreak as people limit social contact and take other precautions to protect against Covid-19. Pertussis peaks every few years, according to the CDC, and recent trends suggest the US is returning to pre-epidemic trends.
But reported cases have been rising sharply for months and have more than doubled since mid-September, CDC data show. About a quarter of all cases were reported in the Midwest region, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Pennsylvania has more reported cases than any other state.
While whooping cough can be serious at any age, children under the age of 1 are especially sensitive as their immune systems are still developing. This is especially true for infants and young children who have not received all recommended vaccinations.
Coughing is the best way to prevent whooping cough, according to the CDC; The agency recommends that children receive the DTaP vaccine and that teens and adults receive the TdAP vaccine.
But they have a vaccination rate among children He fell; Only 92% of kindergarteners received their DTaP vaccine for the 2023-2024 school year, below the federal target of 95% and putting thousands of school children at risk. It is also possible to protect those who are vaccinated Faded in time.
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Antibiotics can treat the infection, but only if it is caught in the first few weeks, before the exhausting, painful cough. Then, when the infection goes away, the only treatment is comfort care with plenty of rest and fluids.
Broader respiratory disease activity is relatively moderate as the US moves into winter. follow up Data It indicates that the levels of covid-19 are starting to increase from low levels and flu rates are also increasing.
's Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.