Whooping Cough -- also known as Pertussis
Jordan M. Prendergast, DO, Lexington Clinic Family Medicine
Whooping cough, or pertussis as it is officially named, is hitting Central Kentucky hard. Nearly 30 children have been diagnosed with the highly contagious respiratory disease just since the start of February, and that number could climb. Part of the problem is symptoms start out looking just like a common cold before the dangerous coughing fits set in.
Symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Low-grade fever (99 – 101 degrees)
- Mild, occasional cough
- Apnea – a pause in breathing in babies
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics if caught early, but if it goes untreated the violent coughing can stick around for as long as 10 weeks! Vaccines are also effective in helping prevent the spread of whooping cough.
If your child has these symptoms and they linger for more than two days, visit your provider. If you’d like to establish care for your child, please visit LexingtonClinic.com/myprimarycare to learn more.
For help scheduling an appointment or to find the location closest to you, please call (859) 258-4362 or visit LexingtonClinic.com.
Jordan M. Prendergast, DO, is board-certified in family medicine. She provides services in general family medicine for adults and children and preventive medicine. Dr. Prendergast can be reached at (859) 272-1928.
Lexington Clinic is Central Kentucky’s largest and oldest medical group. With 350+ providers in more than 30 specialties, we have been taking care of 600,000+ visits annually in the Lexington community since 1920.