Whooping cough is making a resurgence in many parts of the world, with deaths reported in China, the Philippines, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, and outbreaks occurring in countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.
This infection, whose scientific name is whooping cough, is difficult to detect early and can be fatal, especially in children and infants. In the first two months of 2024, China reported 13 deaths and 32,380 reported cases, more than 20 times the same period last year, according to the State Administration of Disease Control and Prevention. The Philippines said this week that the number of infections in the first three months of 2024 was 34 times higher than last year, with 54 deaths.
Here’s everything you need to know about the disease:
What is whooping cough?
The highly contagious disease is caused by Bordetella pertussis, a bacterium that targets the upper respiratory system, releasing toxins that cause the airways to swell, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What are the symptoms?
The early symptoms of whooping cough look a lot like the common cold—nasal congestion, low-grade fever, and a mild cough are often reported. This makes it difficult to diagnose before more serious symptoms develop.
According to the CDC, after a week or two, symptoms may progress to “rapid, severe, and uncontrolled coughing attacks” that end with a high-pitched “whooshing” sound when you inhale. The cough may last up to 10 weeks.
Who is most at risk?
Children are more likely to have the most severe symptoms of whooping cough, and babies usually don’t cough but stop breathing. Teens and adults typically experience milder symptoms, but even then, a debilitating cough can keep them up at night. A complicating factor is that adults with no obvious signs of illness can continue to spread the infection.
How do you treat it?
Once diagnosed, and preferably before the cough starts, doctors will usually treat the infection with antibiotics. If a patient has a cough for more than three weeks, antibiotics are not needed because the bacteria may have left the body and the cough is the result of damage to the airways.
Is there a whooping cough vaccine?
In China, free vaccines, usually a combination shot, also protect babies against diphtheria and tetanus. In the United States, there are two vaccine options available – one for children under seven years old and one for people over seven years old. In the UK, babies are routinely given the jab, while the Philippines has warned there could be supply shortages by May.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
