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Resurgence of whooping cough among teens
There's been a resurgence of whooping cough especially among teens in the Bay Area.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Bay Area doctors are warning about a surge in whooping cough cases, with some counties experiencing their highest numbers in a decade.
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a bacterial infection known for severe coughing fits, which can lead to vomiting or even cracked ribs. Often called the "hundred-day cough," coughing symptoms can last as long as three months.
For babies and very young children, the illness can be life-threatening as coughing fits can restrict breathing. Most children are vaccinated around two months old, but this fall, doctors report a spike in cases among older kids and teens, including some who are vaccinated.
In Contra Costa County, there have been 115 cases this year, compared to 16 last year.
Santa Clara County has reported 55 cases, up from eight last year, and Marin County has seen 350 so far this year, a significant rise from 17 cases last year.
Santa Clara County had a previous whooping cough outbreak in 2019 with 172 cases.
San Diego County has the most cases reported in the state, with 470 through Sept. 30.
The last time Contra Costa County had more than 100 cases of pertussis was in 2014.
"This is part of a statewide and nationwide trend," said Dr. Sharon Mowat, a Kaiser pediatrician. "We’re seeing an uptick, mostly in teenagers." She noted symptoms can resemble a runny nose and persistent cough, making it hard to detect. "It is difficult to know the difference between your regular old viral cough and whooping cough."
The main difference is the persistence and duration of a cough with pertussis and the fact that it is a bacterial infection that should be treated with antibiotics to avoid developing bronchitis or pneumonia.
Alameda County has recorded 84 pertussis cases this year, with numbers doubling in October alone. Of these, 74 percent were in kids between 14-18 years old. The county has sent exposure notifications to families at 15 Alameda County schools, warning them of potential exposure in classrooms.
"While the recent pertussis cases have occurred among high school aged youth, it is important to remember that pregnant persons and infants infected with pertussis are more vulnerable to serious complications such as hospitalizations or death," said Alameda County Public Health public information officer, Austin Wingate. "We would strongly recommend all pregnant persons receive the Tdap vaccination the third trimester to protect newborns before they can be immunized," he said.
Nationally, whooping cough is at its highest level in a decade for this time of year, U.S. health officials reported in October.
The increase is not unexpected — whooping cough peaks every three to five years, health experts said. And the numbers indicate a return to levels before the coronavirus pandemic, when whooping cough and other contagious illnesses plummeted.
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that kindergarten vaccination rates dipped last year and vaccine exemptions are at an all-time high.
Whooping cough used to be very common until a vaccine was introduced in the 1950s, which is now part of routine childhood vaccinations. It is in a shot along with tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. The combo shot is recommended for adults every 10 years.
Doctors stress the importance of infants getting vaccinated when they're eligible, at two months old.
Pertussis is so contagious that if one person in a family tests positive, the entire household is typically prescribed antibiotics to prevent further spread.