Cases of whooping cough have tripled in Alabama

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Waffle) – Officials with the Alabama Department of Public Health have tracked 124 cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, in Alabama this year. That’s up from just 41 last year.

The initial signs of whooping cough look like a common cold. Officials say it can take weeks to notice that your child has the lingering cough that gives the disease its name.

Huntsville Hospital pediatrician Dr. Kym Middleton says whooping cough can be dangerous for young children.

“Their airways are much smaller, so they don’t have the reserve to compensate for the airway irritation they can get,” Middleton said.

She says it’s important for parents to know when their child is experiencing respiratory distress.

“In the ribs pulling them. You can see the drag as well as the nasal flare,” Middleton said. “Then if they’re not able to feed themselves very well because they can get dehydrated from breathing problems. But also if they have discoloration, which causes concern that they’re not getting good oxygen.”

Dr. Middleton says if your child has these symptoms, take them to a hospital. She adds that if you come into contact with someone who has whooping cough, there are steps you can take to prevent it from spreading.

“Just some general rules, as long as you cover your mouth when you cough and wash your hands with soap and water, that will help prevent the spread,” Middleton said.

Dr. Wes Stubblefield of the Alabama Department of Public Health says you should wash your hands regularly, but there’s only one way to stay healthy.

“So the only way to protect yourself from pertussis is to get vaccinated,” Stubblefield said.

The advisory comes as Alabama is reporting more than three times the number of pertussis cases compared to last year. Stubblefield says it’s not clear why.

“No one really knows that it may just be the normal cycle of the pertussis infection that they’re getting. we also know that there are more children going to school unvaccinated, and incomplete vacations can play a role in that as well,” Stubblefield said.

ADPH is tracking pertussis outbreaks in Lauderdale County, Limestone County, Madison County and Jackson County.

I asked Stubblefield why there could be outbreaks along the Tennessee Stateline, he says it’s just a coincidence.

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