BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

Whooping Cough Cases Spike to Near Decade High: What You Need to Know

There have been five times as many whooping cough cases reported so far this year compared to 2023. See what you need to do to keep your family safe.
save article
profile picture of Wyndi Kappes
By Wyndi Kappes, Associate Editor
Published September 24, 2024
NEW!
mom comforting crying baby
Image: morrowlight | Shutterstock

As kids head back to school and daycare and temperatures begin to drop, whooping cough season is upon us again. Unlike the past few years, cases have surged significantly over the past few weeks, with five times as many reported this year compared to last year. While the causes of this surge are multifaceted, there are clear steps you and your family can take to prevent whooping cough. Read on to learn more.

Why Are Cases Rising?

On September 20, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Surveillance and Trends report on pertussis, also known as whooping cough. This year’s data shows not only a return to pre-pandemic levels of whooping cough—where cases can exceed 10,000 annually—but also a significant spike in the past few weeks.

According to the CDC, more than five times as many cases have been reported this year compared to the same time in 2023. The number of reported cases is higher than at the same time in 2019, prior to the pandemic. A total of 291 cases were reported for the week ending on September 14, the highest weekly count since 2015.

The CDC attributes this increase to a combination of factors, including the rollback of COVID-19 mitigation measures like masking, social distancing, and increased handwashing, as well as a delay in vaccinations during the pandemic that saw many children and babies skip or defer their DTaP vaccinations. As cases spread more quickly through larger unvaccinated populations, vaccinated children with waning immunity are also at risk of contracting the virus.

What Does Whooping Cough Look Like?

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It spreads easily through coughing or sneezing in close contact with others who then inhale the bacteria. The disease gets its name from the “whoop” sound made when gasping for air after a coughing fit. However, only about a third of those infected make this sound, so it’s essential to watch for other symptoms like cold-like signs, a persistent cough, and difficulty breathing in young children.

Babies under one year old are at the greatest risk for severe complications. According to the CDC, about one-third of babies younger than 12 months old who get whooping cough require hospitalization. Sixty-six percent experience life-threatening pauses in breathing, and 22 percent develop pneumonia.

What Should I Do to Protect My Family?

The best way to protect your child from whooping cough is to keep them up to date with vaccinations. The CDC recommends the whooping cough vaccine for all babies, children, preteens, adults and pregnant women. Pregnant women should receive the Tdap vaccine in the early part of the third trimester to provide the best protection to newborns. Kids should receive a series of five DTaP vaccinations between 2-18 months and one again between 4 and 6 years old. The DTap vaccine has been shown to protect 9 out of 10 babies from being hospitalized due to whooping cough.

In addition to vaccination, parents should maintain good hygiene habits like regular handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes and teach their children to do the same. If your child seems unusually tired or has persistent symptoms that go beyond a typical cold, don’t hesitate to contact your pediatrician. Many medical offices offer nurse lines where you can discuss symptoms and decide if an in-person visit is necessary.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

mom looking into baby's eyes
Are Baby’s Eyes Red? Here’s Why—And What to Do About It
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
newborn baby sneezing while in baby bouncer
Why Newborn Sneezing Is Totally Normal
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
mother touching baby's lips
Why Your Newborn Might Have a Lip Blister
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
First Days Home With Baby: Signs to Call the Doctor
First Days Home With Baby: Signs to Call the Doctor
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
cold and flu medication and hot tea on wooden table at home
What to Know About Taking Cold Medicine While Breastfeeding
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
Best Baby Nasal Aspirators-hero
The Best Baby Nasal Aspirators for Stuffy Noses
By Kelsey Paine
baby crying due to hand foot mouth disease
How to Prevent and Treat Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
doctor checking baby's throat
Can Babies Get Strep Throat?
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
baby coughing
What to Do When Baby Has a Cough
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
mother holding crying baby
Everything to Know About the Flu in Babies
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
baby sleeping in mother's arms at home
How to Treat a Baby Fever
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
Mom holding sick baby
How to Detect and Treat Sore Throat in Babies and Toddlers
By Kristina Cappetta
mother comforting baby while breastfeeding at home
Everything to Know About Newborn and Baby Congestion
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
Best Baby Thermometers
The Heat Is on: the Best Baby Thermometers for Your Needs
By Martina Garvey
child standing outside holding inhaler for asthma
RSV in Baby’s First Year Could Raise Their Risk of Asthma, Study Says
By Wyndi Kappes
mother cuddling baby that is sick with a cold at home on the couch
Sniffles Be Gone: How to Treat a Baby Cold
By Celia Shatzman
Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin from the home edit
The Home Edit Stars Dish on How Busy Parents Can Get Organized
By Ashlee Neuman
ADVERTISEMENT
mother taking toddler's temperature
Cold vs. COVID: Difference in Symptoms and When to Get Tested
By Nehal Aggarwal
baby sick with fever and crying while mom touches forehead
These States Are Seeing an Unusual Summertime Spike in RSV Cases
By Nehal Aggarwal
Dad comforting and holding baby.
How to Detect and Treat Thrush in Babies
By Korin Miller
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.