Cases in Texas have tripled since this time last year. Anyone can get pertussis, but young children are most susceptible to severe complications.
AUSTIN, Texas — State and local health officials are warning that the number of pertussis cases is surging in Texas and across the nation. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the state has three times as many cases as during the same period in 2023. The trend is consistent with preliminary national data showing a five-fold increase in cases across the country.
Pertussis is a highly contagious disease caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It is often spread through small particles of virus expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
“It’s transmitted through droplets, so if someone is coughing a lot, those droplets are released into the air,” said Dr. Varun Shetty, chief epidemiologist for the Texas Department of State Health Services. “If someone comes into contact with it, it can spread that way.”
Initial symptoms are similar to the common cold, but after a week or two they worsen and progress to coughing attacks, vomiting, and a characteristic whistling sound when you breathe in. There is. 3 weeks.
Shetty said the initial symptoms are similar to other types of respiratory illnesses, making it difficult for doctors to diagnose.
“The cough, runny nose and mild fever last for a week or two, and then you start to see the characteristic symptoms of whooping cough. A really bad cough that suddenly starts and goes away. It continues,” Dr. Shetty said. . “It can cause a lot of discomfort, and when you try to take a breath while you’re coughing, it can cause this classic whistling sound. It can be hard to watch. .”
Symptoms may be different in infants. Instead of a coughing attack, symptoms such as nausea, gasping, vomiting, and difficulty breathing may occur.
“Young children don’t eat as much, which can cause fever and difficulty breathing,” said Dr. Desmar Woakes, medical director of Austin Public Health at the Austin/Travis County Health Department. “If symptoms worsen and become severe, hospitalization may be required.”
DSHS says infants and young children, especially children under the age of 1, are more susceptible to serious complications.
Dr Shetty said about one-third of children under the age of one who contract the disease need to go to hospital for treatment.
“For our youngest children, their immune systems are still developing, so when they get an illness like this, it can be very difficult for their bodies to react and respond,” Dr. Shetty said. Ta. “We also know that these young children have a lot of complications. They can have trouble breathing, they can develop things like pneumonia, and in severe cases they can have seizures. In rare cases, it can even lead to death.”
Austin area case study
In the Austin area, patients requiring hospitalization are primarily among the elderly and immunocompromised, people with chronic illnesses that make recovery difficult, and young children, Walker said. Dr. Su said.
Dr. Woakes said the county public health department confirmed 11 cases of whooping cough last year, but there have already been 49 cases so far this year.
“This is a huge leap forward,” Dr. Woakes said. “We know that over the past few years, dealing with the pandemic and recovery, and staying up to date on all precautions, many people may not have been able to get their children vaccinated. We’re trying to get people back to get vaccinated.”
Public health experts said the best way to prevent whooping cough is vaccination. However, Dr. Shetty said even vaccinated people could still become infected as immunity declines over time.
“While it is very effective in preventing whooping cough infection, it is still possible to get whooping cough even if you have been vaccinated,” Dr. Shetty says. “There’s evidence that if you’re vaccinated, you may get less sick because of it.”
The vaccine for infants is called DTaP. This begins at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, with another round shortly after the first birthday between 15 and 18 months, and the last dose between 4 and 6 years of age. It takes place during the month.
Dr. Shetty said DTaP protects 98% of children within a year of the last dose in its series.
There is also a Tdap vaccine. It can be given to pre-teens around 11 to 12 years of age, adults at any time, and pregnant women. Pregnant women are encouraged to receive the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy to protect their vulnerable newborns.
“We want to make sure that the mother is protected so that she doesn’t get sick or transmit whooping cough to her newborn baby,” Dr. Shetty said. “This is important for all caregivers who are around young children and is very effective in protecting both mother and baby in such situations.”
Whooping cough treatment
Dr Shetty said early treatment with antibiotics such as azithromycin, erythromycin and clarithromycin is important to reduce the severity of the disease and reduce the risk of infection to others.
“It may reduce your chances of developing severe disease,” Dr. Shetty said. “That might reduce the number of days you get sick.”
Dr. Shetty said people who have or suspect they have pertussis should stay away from others and contact their health care provider to receive testing, medical help and treatment as soon as possible.
Because it is highly contagious, DSHS recommends that people stay home from work, school, and public places until they receive a five-day course of antibiotics.
“This guidance is aimed at treating close contacts, including children attending school, their loved ones at school who may have been near them when they coughed or sneezed, and to reduce the spread of infection. “We’re also treating household contacts to reduce whooping cough,” Dr. Woakes said.
Dr. Shetty said this year’s surge in cases is a rebound from relatively low case numbers during the pandemic and is part of a return to pre-pandemic trends.
“The actions we have taken as a community to protect ourselves from COVID-19 have also protected us from other diseases like whooping cough,” Dr. Shetty said. “In 2021 and 2022, we had unusually low levels of whooping cough. We saw an increase in 2023, and now we’re starting to see an even greater increase.”
While the state is still below the average number of 1,400 cases reported each year in Texas before the pandemic, Dr. Shetty said the state is on track to return to that level.
The surge in cases comes at the beginning of respiratory season, but it’s not a typical winter illness like the flu. Before the pandemic, whooping cough cases peaked in the spring or summer. The current rise in the disease comes as doctors predict a surge in traditional winter illnesses such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the coming weeks, potentially straining the health system. I am concerned about this.
“Now is the time to go get vaccinated,” Dr. Woakes said. “We have some celebrations and holiday gatherings ahead. By getting the necessary vaccines, we can have a safe holiday season and protect ourselves and our communities. .”
Dr. Woakes and Dr. Shetty recommend everyday precautions such as covering coughs and sneezes, staying home if you’re sick, and washing your hands frequently to reduce the spread of whooping cough and protect vulnerable populations. He encouraged people to take the steps.
