Rib-Cracking Lung Diseases Reach 13-Year High, Worrying Doctors



Highly Contagious Whooping Cough Surges to Levels Not Seen in Over a Decade

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, has seen a significant surge in reported cases in the US, with numbers doubling since mid-September and surpassing 32,000 cases in 2024, the highest level seen in over a decade. This marks a return to pre-pandemic levels, with childhood vaccination rates showing signs of decline.

The surge in cases is not unique to whooping cough, as walking pneumonia infections among toddlers have jumped seven-fold since March, and doubled among older children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a rise in infections across all age groups, with the largest increase seen in children between the ages of two and 17.

The Midwest region has seen the highest number of reported cases, with Pennsylvania leading the nation with over 2,000 cases. Public health officials attribute the increase to several factors, including the end of widespread mask-wearing and social distancing measures, and the possible weakening of immune systems due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The infection can be fatal, but rarely so, with fewer than 20 deaths typically reported annually. Symptoms include severe, sometimes rib-cracking coughs, fevers, congestion, a whooping sound when inhaling, vomiting, fatigue, and sore throat.

Public health officials are warning of a gap in knowledge, with one-third of respondents in a recent survey unaware of what pertussis is or that a vaccine exists to protect against it. Dr. Tina Tan, a pediatrician, emphasizes that whooping cough is considered a pediatric disease, but adults can serve as major sources of transmission due to waning immunity.

Experts believe the uptick in cases is a return to normalcy, as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the typical three- to four-year cycle of whooping cough outbreaks. Dr. Timothy Lishnak notes that the spread is facilitated by respiratory droplets, which were reduced during the pandemic due to mask-wearing and social distancing.

Efforts are being made to diagnose the condition promptly, but parents and pediatricians report delays in timely treatment, with doctors often mistaken it for a viral infection, a cold, or the flu. As the public health crisis continues, health officials urge parents and caregivers to be vigilant, especially for infants under a year old, who are most susceptible to the infection.

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