Health officials are warning of an increase in multiple infections this season, particularly among school-age children, including whooping cough and walking pneumonia.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been approximately four times more cases of whooping cough this year compared to last year.
On Tuesday on “CBS Mornings Plus,” CBS News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook explained that whooping cough is particularly dangerous because of the small airways of infants and young children.
“The reason it’s called whooping cough — it’s a cough, cough, cough, cough, and then they gasp for air, that’s the scream,” he said. “As an adult, when you get it, you may be sick, but you probably won’t have any problem getting air in and out of your body. In infants, the airways are so small that They can really struggle to breathe.”
How to protect yourself from whooping cough
The good news is that there is an effective vaccine for whooping cough, also known as whooping cough. It is part of a combination vaccine called Tdap, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough.
But babies can’t get it until they are 2 months old, making younger children vulnerable.
“So between now and then, you’re really relying on adult vaccinations,” LaPook said.
Vaccine protection wears off over time, so it’s important to stay up to date on your vaccines – and only about 44% of adults 18 and older are actually up to date with their vaccine.
“You’re supposed to get another whooping cough shot every 10 years,” LaPook said.
At any age, LaPook advises being aware of any difficulty breathing, something parents should watch out for in their little ones.
“If there is difficulty breathing or getting air in, you should definitely contact a medical professional,” he said.
What to know about walking pneumonia
There is also an unusual increase in what is commonly called walking pneumonia, an atypical type of pneumonia, in young children in particular.
Medically known as mycoplasma pneumonia, it is a bacteria that causes respiratory tract infections, LaPook explained, adding that there can be a range from no symptoms to mild symptoms. and serious.
The nickname walking pneumonia comes from people generally having milder symptoms.
“You’re sick, but you can still move around. But it can be serious,” LaPook said. “If you have airway inflammation and difficulty breathing, this can be a real problem.”
