(KLTV) - It's a startling sound, especially if you're the parent of a small child.
A deep cough with a "whoop" sound is the sign of pertussis—also called whooping cough. It starts like a cold with a low fever and even a runny nose, but if left untreated, a lingering cough with the recognizable sound could lead to some serious health problems.
The number of pertussis cases is rising around the country, and has claimed two lives in Texas this year. More than 25 percent of pertussis cases in children result in a hospital stay according to health reports.
Pediatrician Melanie Wick said adults or teenagers can be the culprits when it comes to spreading pertussis.
"We can get a cough that lasts for several weeks and we are the ones that expose those little children to pertussis," wick said.
Wick said it's common to see more respiratory illnesses during the winter months when more people are indoors for longer times of the day. Some of the more serious complications of pertussis include pneumonia and apnea—where one stops breathing for brief periods.
While pertussis has been elevated to an epidemic status by health agencies in California, Wick said the number of patients she has seen with the illness here in East Texas this year is about average. NetHealth, which surveyed six counties said 94 cases of pertussis have been reported: Smith county accounted for 74 of those cases.
In Texas, just under 2,200 cases have occurred this year including two deaths. Nearly 50 percent of cases have been in children under the age of 7. Wick said that if it has been more than 10 years since your last tetanus shot, not only is it time to get one, ask for the kind with pertussis coverage as well.
Antibiotics are also able to help treat the illness, but Wick said it's best to see your doctor early before pertussis worsens. Another tip Wick adds is if you are experiencing an illness—pertussis or not—use caution around others.
"If you know you're sick you had fever you've had cough now is the time to stay home you don't want to go out and spread those germs if you can help," Wick said.
Wick said in addition to staying home and away from contact, you can cut back on spreading germs by washing your hands often and covering your coughs.
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| Science & Technology | Upload TimePublished on 19 Dec 2014 |
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