Local case of whooping cough reported

Orange County Health Services announced Tuesday the county has its first confirmed case of pertussis, also known as whooping cough. The respiratory illness is particularly dangerous for infants and babies.

The news comes after Hardin County reported 11 cases in December and the Texas Department of State Health Services, which tracks the cases, reported three times as many cases in November 2024 to November 2023.

The illness is caused by a bacterium in the respiratory system and can be prevented through a common childhood vaccine. The beginning symptoms are similar to those of the common cold with a runny nose, mild fever, sneezing, and mild coughing.

However, as the illness progresses, the patient will develop "violent and rapid" coughing fits. The term "whooping cough" comes from the sound sometimes made after a violent coughing attack. The air in the lungs has all be expelled and a "whoop" sound is occasionally made. The coughing in infants can lead to apnea, a condition where they stop breathing.

The illness is considered highly contagious as people breathe in tiny droplets in the air spread by sick people coughing or sneezing. Pertussis, or whooping cough, symptoms may be so mild in adults and teens who have been vaccinated they think they have a cold and may spread the illness to others, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

More information is available through the TDSHS website.