The Indiana State Department of Health is looking into an increase in pertussis, or whooping cough, cases.
Whooping cough was confirmed in 136 cases in the first half of the year in Indiana. The state recorded only 66 cases during the same time period in 2016. The number of cases is expected to continue to rise.
Pertussis is a bacterial illness transmitted by nose or throat droplets. Symptoms include prolonged cough, bursts of coughing that may cause difficulty in breathing or vomiting following coughing. Older children and adults can experience mild cases while it is more serious in infants.
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics and it can be prevented with two vaccines.
Although the illness can occur in people who have received all of their childhood vaccinations, the symptoms are usually milder in people who have been fully vaccinated.
Discuss any symptoms and treatment with your physician as soon as possible.
