FILE – This photo illustration shows a disposable syringe with hypodermic needle, PERTUSSIS written on a black board behind. (Photo Illustration by Frank Bienewald/LightRocket via Getty Images).
LOS ANGELES – Cases of whooping cough were up 400% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of whooping cough (or pertussis) were lower than usual, according to the CDC, but in the last few years, cases have rebounded and have begun to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Beginning in 2024, cases of whooping cough increased across the United States, indicating a return to more typical trends, the CDC said.
Cases surge
For the week of Dec. 28, 2024, cumulative cases of whooping cough in the U.S. totaled 35,435. During the same period in 2023, the total number of cases was 7,063.
Michigan had the most cumulative cases in 2024 with 145. Next was Minnesota with 129 cases and then New York (excluding New York City) with 97 cases.
- Michigan: 145 cases
- Minnesota: 129 cases
- New York: 97 cases
- California: 68 cases
- Idaho: 62 cases
- Texas: 61 cases
- Oregon: 50 cases
- North Carolina: 49 cases
- Alabama: 45 cases
- Massachusetts: 40 cases
What is whooping cough?
A highly contagious respiratory tract infection, pertussis gets its more common name, “whooping cough,” from the severe hacking cough that some people develop.
In addition to the cough, initial symptoms mimic those of a cold — including nasal congestion, runny nose, fever, and red, watery eyes, according to Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms get worse over time, often leading to severe and uncontrollable coughing fits, which end with a “whooping” sound after the patient breathes in due to a buildup of mucus in the airways, the same source noted.
Tdap and DTaP vaccines
Tdap is a combination of three vaccines that protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis infections in teens and adults.
The DTaP vaccine is the same trio of vaccines administered to children.
“The vaccine works — and it lasts three to five years,” Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, previously told Fox News Digital. said. “Everyone should have an up-to-date vaccine.”
While the vaccine offers protection against severe illness for children, infants who are too young for vaccination are at the highest risk.
“This disease is especially problematic in young children, because they have less developed airways,” Siegel cautioned.
It is recommended that pregnant women get the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy, as it helps protect the newborn until they can receive their own vaccinations.
When to seek medical attention
Due to the potential severity in young infants and those with weakened immune systems, it’s important to seek medical attention if pertussis is suspected, experts advise.
Adults can be treated with doxycycline, a type of antibiotic that prevents the growth and spread of bacteria.
Azithromycin is the common treatment for children, according to Siegel.
In addition to giving antibiotics, it’s important to manage symptoms, especially in severe cases.
“This might include hospitalization for infants or those with severe symptoms to monitor and treat complications.”
Approximately 160,000 children under the age of 5 die globally of pertussis each year, and there are 24 million cases annually, per CDC data.
