Unfortunately, we are again seeing cases of whooping cough in the north suburbs of Chicago.  Although most children have been vaccinated, the cases we are seeing are generally mild cases that are occurring in children who received their last whooping cough vaccine several years ago.  The high risk age groups include infants under 6 months old, and 8, 9, and 10 year olds.  Typical symptoms include cough, which is sometimes the only symptom.  Other symptoms may include fever, nasal congestion, fatigue, or headache.

If you are concerned your child may have the whooping cough, we will test them in the office to see if they do in fact have it.  This is done with a nasal swab that is sent to the hospital, and we typically have results within 24-48 hrs of performing the test.  If it is positive, your child will receive antibiotics, and the entire family will need to receive antibiotics as well.  In addition, typically, any child with pertussis is held out of school until they complete the mandated 5 day course of antibiotics.

Finally, if your child does not have any symptoms, but was closely exposed to another child who has pertussis (whooping cough), please contact us.  In certain cases, we may prescribe prophylactic antibiotics in order to prevent the development of illness in somebody who had a very close exposure history.