Whooping Cough Cases on the Rise in Kentucky

When I was a child, I was annually plagued with laryngotracheobronchitis. But since nobody has time to say that word, we'll use the more common term "croup."

You could set your watch by it. In my pre-school days, I spent a good deal of time each year in what's known as a "croup tent." There I was, laying in bed, surrounded on four sides by kitchen chairs and covered with a blanket. My only company inside the makeshift enclosure was a humidifier and Vick's Salve. And that "croup cough" was a beast. It hurt; it sounded like a dog barking; and it was alarming to anyone who could hear it but couldn't see me.

An Uptick in Kentucky Whooping Cough Cases

So I have a great deal of sympathy for kids who deal with whooping cough, or pertussis, and it's uppermost in my mind after learning of an increase in cases in Kentucky, according to health experts.

Although anyone at any age can contract this highly contagious illness, officials in Kentucky indicate the current surge is mostly affecting children.

What Is Whooping Cough?

Whooping cough is a respiratory tract infection characterized by a harsh cough that creates a "whoop" sound when air is taken in.

Sometimes, though, it's just a hacking cough and the "whoop" is not present. The Mayo Clinic tells us that early symptoms resemble a cold, but after a week or two, they get much worse.

Over the next three years, the Kentucky Association of Health Plans will partner with Kentucky Voices for Health in an effort increase immunizations. Concerned families may contact the Vaccines for Children program to inquire about free immunizations.

[SOURCE: WHAS11-Louisville]