As whooping cough cases rise, newborns most at risk, experts say

Source: upi




By I. Edwards, HealthDay News Oct. 4, 2025 / 2:33 PM


When someone has whooping cough, the sound can be unmistakable: A deep, gasping "whoop" as they struggle to catch their breath between fits of coughing.

Now, this once-rare illness, also known as pertussis, is making a comeback across the United States.


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"Pertussis symptoms are different in infants," said lead author Dr. Caitlin Li, an infectious diseases specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and assistant professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "The characteristic whooping cough may be absent, but apnea, or breathing interruption, is common."

In infants, pertussis may also cause extremely high white blood cell counts, or leukocytosis, which can be mistaken for cancer or other serious conditions..................


Read more: https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2025/10/04/whooping-cough-pertussis-comeback/7191759596252/

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moonbreeze @moonbreeze2
As whooping cough cases rise, newborns most at risk, experts say

"Given that infants are at high risk for complications, pertussis vaccination of mothers during pregnancy is critical, as it protects newborns against this potentially fatal illness,"

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According to experts, a recent rise in whooping cough cases could be especially dangerous for newborns. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News