Kansas health officials are monitoring a spike in whooping cough cases around the state this year, marking one of the biggest increases in case numbers in nearly a decade. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says as of Tuesday, January 7th, 246 cases of whooping cough have been reported… six times the cases compared to last year. The medical name is pertussis, and common symptoms include coughing fits, vomiting after the fits, difficulty sleeping, struggling to breath and even broken ribs caused by the violent coughing. Symptoms could last for weeks.
According to the KDHE, young children are most at risk from whooping cough. Babies may develop a life-threatening condition called apnea which causes them to stop breathing. People infected with whooping cough can spread its bacteria for many weeks after coughing begins and if it remains untreated. The KDHE recommend people get a pertussis vaccine as least once, maybe more depending on your age. Don’t wait…check with your doctor if you are having any of the symptoms.
