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Diagnosed cases of pertussis, commonly known as whopping cough, continue to climb in the local area at an alarming rate, hitting Montgomery and Clark counties especially hard this year, according to public health officials.
So far this year, 111 cases of whopping cough have been confirmed in Montgomery County, up nearly 400 percent from 2012 when 28 cases had been confirmed by this time last year, Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County reported Friday. In 2011, only four cases had been confirmed through the third week in November.
“Pertussis cases are up throughout the Dayton region,” said Montgomery County Health Commissioner Jim Gross. “Those affected have ranged from babies through the elderly, with the majority of cases in middle school-aged children.”
Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease that starts with flu-like symptoms, followed by several weeks of violent coughing that can make it difficult to breathe.
Infants and people with compromised immune systems are at greatest risk for having severe complications, according to health department officials, who noted that about about half of infants under a year old who get pertussis are hospitalized. In rare cases — about one in 100 — the infant will die.
Pregnant women and anyone working with small children, such as child care providers, teachers, parents, grandparents, and older siblings, should make it a priority to get vaccinated, said Bill Wharton, a health department spokesman.
“A lot of times what happens is somebody gets exposed to it and then brings it home,” Wharton said. “That’s why it’s important for anybody that may be working or dealing with small kids in any way to be sure to get immunized against pertussis.”
The symptoms of whooping cough are generally milder in teens and adults, Wharton said, especially in those who have been vaccinated. Still, “even though you may be immunized, you may still get infected just because the incidence is so high this year,” he said.
Gabe Jones, an epidemiologist at the Clark County Combined Health District, said the health department has confirmed 30 cases of whopping cough so far this year, compared to just eight all of last year: “That’s highly unusual for us. We’re seeing a really big spike this year.”
So far, other local counties aren’t seeing the same surge. Miami, Greene, Warren and Preble counties have confirmed less than a dozen cases so far this year.
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