A sharp increase in the incidence of whooping cough in the United States: the number of cases has increased fivefold in a year

(HealthDay News) – whooping cough increases in USAand cases are rising across the country. It’s important to remember that whooping cough or whooping coughalso known as whooping coughcan affect both adults and children, according to the president Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA, English abbreviation), Dr. Tina Tan.

“Adolescents and adults are an important source of community transmission as many doctors who treat adults continue to believing that whooping cough is only a pediatric disease,” said Tang, a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the Feinberg School of Medicine. Northwestern UniversityV Chicago.

“They also believe that if a person had a disease or received a vaccine as a child, they are protected for life, which is not entirely true.” Tan added in a university press release.

“It is important to diagnose the individual because they can be treated with antibiotics and close contacts can be given antibiotic prophylaxis,” he added.

City health authorities USA recently reported that cases of whooping cough are on the rise at the fastest pace in recent years. As of October 19, reports have been received There are more than five times more cases of whooping cough in this country.compared to the same period in 2023, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from USA

There have been 19,662 reported cases of whooping cough. CDCcompared with 4,358 registered at the same time last year, statistics show. Pennsylvania the most this year with 2,301 cases, followed by New York (1999), Illinois (1.276), Wisconsin (1.249) and Ohio (944), according to the CDC.

Whooping cough is highly contagious, as is measles. – Tan wrote, anyone can become infected except infants under 6 months, people with immunodeficiencies, etc. Older people have the highest risk of serious illness and death– said Tan.

The most common symptom in adolescents and adults is long-lasting, occurring suddenly and intensely. Coughing attacks can last a long time.and a person is contagious for a month after the cough starts, Tan said.

Whooping cough epidemics typically occur every three to five years, Tan said. but this cycle was interrupted during the pandemic when people were socially isolated or wearing masks..

This new surge could become a normal cycle now that people have lost pandemic-era protections, Tan added. Whooping cough may also be more contagious due to declining rates of routine vaccination among all age groups. USATan added.

More people are now susceptible to whooping cough infection, who can then spread the disease to more people, he said. So.

*The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information about whooping cough. SOURCE: Northwestern University, press release, October 29, 2024.

*Dennis Thompson, HealthDay Reporters © 2024 The New York Times.