The Grayson County Health Department has issued a health alert as incidents of pertussis (whooping cough) have increased in nearby counties.
“The Grayson County Health Department (GCHD) is monitoring for any incidents of local pertussis cases. Our clinic has noticed an increase in cases in surrounding counties,” the GCHD said.
“Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In many people, it’s marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like ‘whoop,’” according to the Mayo Clinic.
Before a vaccine was developed, whooping cough was considered a childhood disease. Now, whooping cough primarily affects children too young to have completed the full course of vaccinations and teenagers and adults whose immunity has faded.
“Deaths associated with whooping cough are rare but most commonly occur in infants,” the Mayo Clinic states. “That’s why it’s so important for pregnant women — and other people who will have close contact with an infant — to be vaccinated against whooping cough.”
Once you become infected with whooping cough, it takes about seven to 10 days for signs and symptoms to appear, though it can sometimes take longer. Symptoms are usually mild at first and resemble those of a common cold and include a runny nose, nasal congestion, red/watery eyes, and a fever and cough.
“After a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen, as thick mucus accumulates inside airways, causing uncontrollable coughing,” according to the Mayor Clinic. “Severe and prolonged coughing attacks may provoke vomiting, result in a red or blue face, cause extreme fatigue, and end with a high-pitched “whoop” sound during the next breath of air.”
Many people, though, don’t develop the characteristic whoop. Sometimes, a persistent hacking cough is the only sign that an adolescent or adult has whooping cough. Infants may not cough at all. Instead, they may struggle to breathe, or they may even temporarily stop breathing.
“Call your doctor if prolonged coughing spells cause you or your child to vomit, turn red or blue, struggle to breathe or have noticeable pauses in breathing, and inhale with a whooping sound,” the Mayo Clinic encourages.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
