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Surprise, surprise! Whooping cough, the respiratory illness that sounds like a bad musical number, is making a comeback in the United States. According to the latest gossip from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are now Target=”_blank”>five times the cases compared to last year at this time. Clearly, whooping cough wanted to ensure we never took it off our list of party guests.
The tally, which is no doubt worthy of its own reality TV show, now stands at a staggering 18,506 cases as of the week ending October 12. Last year at this time, a measly 3,382 brave souls reported they’d been infected. It’s been quite the glow-up for whooping cough!
Whooping cough, or pertussis for those who prefer to sound medically inclined, is the kind of respiratory illness that thrives under the radar. It often plays a sinister game of “guess who?” with symptoms so deceitful that they can easily be mistaken for other common seasonal annoyances. It’s like the master of disguise at a Halloween party, but instead of candy, it gives you a rib-breaking cough.
The infection kicks off with some classic symptoms: a runny nose, low-grade fever, and a cough so tickly it may tempt you to try a new career in stand-up comedy. But just when you think it’s a minor cold, the plot twist happens—enter the violent coughing fit that could make even the toughest body break out in a sweat.
These fits are no joke; they’re so intense that some folks might want to trade their ribcages for a new model. Them’s the breaks, literally! And don’t forget the entertaining whooping sound that accompanies the struggle for breath—it’s like a concert gone horribly wrong.
Sure, antibiotics can save the day if you catch this pesky infection early. Miss the window, though, and you’re relegated to comfort care, which includes fluids and a lot of Netflix while you wait for the cough to tire itself out like a hyperactive toddler.
Whooping cough isn’t picky about who it infects, but it has a suspiciously fond attachment to children under one year old. They may lack the immunity necessary to fight off such a fiend, especially if they haven’t received their recommended vaccines. Who knew parenting would come with so many plot twists?
Some infants are so subtle with their symptoms that they skip the cough altogether, leading parents to believe they are simply strong-willed. But hold on—these little ones are at greater risk for not-so-fun complications like pneumonia. Whooping cough really knows how to ruin a party.
Like all great infections, whooping cough loves to spread its joy through the air. Typical venues include schools, child care centers, and hospitals—the hotspots for those who want to play Russian roulette with their respiratory health.
And imagine the family fun of a contagious person carrying this infection for two weeks without knowing! That’s how siblings, parents, and caregivers can create their own whooping cough legacy—passing it around like holiday cookies.
So, how do you prevent this respiratory rager from crashing your party? Getting vaccinated, of course! The CDC recommends children roll up their sleeves for the DTaP vaccine while adolescents and adults take themselves for the TDaP vaccine. Because who wouldn’t want to sidestep a coughing fit that can double as a party trick?
CNN’s Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.
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