What are the symptoms of whooping cough? The disease hit California at a time when the outbreak was on the rise nationwide

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — California is in the midst of a whooping cough outbreak as the CDC reports a nationwide outbreak.

This raises concerns for those most vulnerable to bacterial infections. It spreads through airborne droplets that can survive on clothing and surfaces for up to five days. Symptoms often start as a cold and progress to a cough that lasts for weeks.

The horrifying sound of coughing means young lungs are gasping for air, making them more vulnerable to infection.

Symptoms include coughing like “oops”, runny nose and nasal congestion.

Pertussis “is called a whooping cough because the diaphragm is compressing the lungs, trying to get all of that out, forcing the lungs up,” said the Children’s Hospital doctor. Dr. Gabriel Pina in Loma Linda University Children’s Health.

It’s even scarier when you can’t hear the babies breathing.

“They develop asphyxia because the diaphragm can’t really do that. So they stop breathing for 20-plus seconds, which is terrifying,” Pina said.

The CDC reports a 10-year rise in whooping cough cases with more than 17,000 reports so far.

Americans are experiencing five times more cases than last year, including several in California.

“It looks like it’s coming back with a vengeance,” Pina said.

Pertussis numbers are returning to pre-pandemic levels, masks and social isolation are more common and many families are skipping childhood vaccinations.

“If you’re in a community that doesn’t regularly vaccinate, you’re at a higher risk of getting vaccine-preventable diseases like pertussis,” he said.

Babies under one year of age are at greatest risk of developing infections and serious complications, with one-third of them ending up in hospitals.

Pertussis is a respiratory tract infection that can usually be treated with antibiotics to prevent the bacteria from spreading further.

Adults, especially the immunocompromised and the elderly, need a Tdap booster vaccine every 10 years, while pregnant women are recommended to get it at 27 weeks’ gestation.

“That’s because we want the third-trimester stores of antibodies to pass into the babies so they have more protection,” Pina said.

Pina expects infections to rise further and recommends vaccination, keeping newborns at home and avoiding crowds.

“Wash your hands, wash your hands. And if you’re sick, please wear a mask because you’re helping to prevent the spread,” Pina said.