The spread of Whooping cough in Arizona

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is spreading across Arizona, with cases at their highest levels since 2013, according to data from the Arizona Department of Health Services. The department reports 591 cases as of mid-November. The Health Department said we typically see a spike in flu cases between mid-November and mid-December.

Dr. Frank LoVecchio of Valleywise Health and the ASU College of Health Solutions joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the spike in cases and what people should know about it.

How contagious is this?

“Very contagious, but you are protected if you are vaccinated. As adults, sometimes we don’t get a booster for pertussis, but if you get a tetanus shot, it usually has pertussis in it,” Dr. LoVecchio said.

How long after exposure do symptoms appear?

“Usually within about two weeks, and as you said earlier, this year has doubled the amount of cases we usually see during this time,” Dr. LoVecchio said.

Is it difficult to diagnose?

“Somewhat. You have to do a special culture. Usually it’s a godsend when a patient comes in and gives that characteristic cough that sounds like barking, and it’s been going on for a while. Then you kind of know it is that,” Dr. LoVecchio said.

Do symptoms differ? The cough is always there?

“That whoop when it is there, it’s classic, but it starts off as a slower cough or it can start off as pneumonia, and the babies sometimes get apneic or can stop breathing, so that is a little difficult when they are under 1 year of age,” Dr. LoVecchio said.