HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Health Department says that even with the holidays, it appears for now that pertussis is not becoming a growing problem in the area. It was back in Aug. and then again last month when the Health Department warned that whooping cough could become a problem with the holidays approaching.

Kathy Winger with the Health Department says people are getting their T-DaP and D-TaP vaccines, and more people are inquiring about pertussis.

Pertussis is a highly-contagious respiratory infection that often causes serious problems and can be fatal in infants less than one year of age. Symptoms in adults and older children can be less severe. Symptoms generally appear four to 21 days after exposure to pertussis. Pertussis usually starts out with cold or flu-like symptoms including a runny nose, sneezing, fever, and cough that last 1-2 weeks. Symptoms worsen over time and the cough generally gets more severe.

Coughing spells are apart of the next stage of pertussis and can be followed by the “whoop” sound that is made when trying to inhale during or after a severe coughing spell. Person’s lips may also turn blue or they may vomit after a coughing spell.

If you need a vaccination, contact your doctor or call the Reno County Health Department at 620-694-2900.