LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – Officials with Emplify Health by Gundersen say after a lull over the last few months, whooping cough cases have returned to the Coulee Region.
Whooping cough is a respiratory illness that begins with cold-like symptoms such as fever, a runny nose, and a mild cough.
Emplify officials say after a week or two, symptoms progress to uncontrolled coughing fits, often followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound when inhaling.
Officials add the illness can be harmful, especially to youth.
“If pertussis isn’t treated or detected early, it can result in this chronic, deep, and painful cough. For most adults, that’s all it’s going to be, which is great because they’ll eventually recover on their own. However, for our vulnerable populations, like babies and children, they can get respiratory distress leading to hospitalization,” says Emplify Health infection preventionist Megan Meller.
Officials say the illness is also highly contagious.
“When someone coughs, or if they sneeze, those droplets that they produce can hang out in the air and land on surfaces. Other people can inhale it or if they touch those surfaces and touch their eyes or mouth they can get exposed that way. It’s most contagious in that early stage when it looks just like a common cold. Sometimes it’s not even on the top of our minds, and that’s what helps it spread so easily throughout populations,” says Meller.
Emplify Health officials say cases of pertussis can be treated with antibiotics. Also, it’s important to prioritize rest and good hygiene practices, including regular handwashing. Officials also encourage whooping cough vaccines.
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