ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – With cases of an easily-spread illness on the rise, health officials are urging parents to be prepared.
Pertussis—also known as whooping cough—is a contagious, long-lasting upper respiratory infection. According to Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties (PHDM), the increase in cases is occurring throughout Michigan and across the country.
“Certainly in our area, we’re seeing much higher levels than we normally do,” said Jennie Miller, PHDM Immunization and Communicable Disease Coordinator. “What we’re seeing is clusters, and a lot of times there are school-age children in the family.”
Miller says pertussis symptoms can be especially severe for infants under 12 months old and pregnant women.
“It’s characterized by a very prolonged cough, violent episodes of coughing,” she explained. “It can cause people to have a little lapse in their breathing. It can cause people to cough so hard that they vomit or even crack a rib.”
Pertussis vaccines are recommended for infants at 2, 4, 6, and 12 – 15 months, then again between 4 and 6 years old. Boosters are also available in ten-year increments.
“It’s really hard this time of year because there’s a lot of other respiratory things circulating,” Miller said. “You know, ‘How do I know if my child has whooping cough or something else?’ It really is probably going very underreported because not everyone has symptoms as severely as others. It’s best to be evaluated by your doctor if your child has a prolonged cough.”
Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties encourages every parent to check their family’s vaccination status. Parents are also advised to consult their healthcare provider before sending their children to school or daycare if they are exhibiting symptoms of pertussis.
