Allegheny County Health Department issued an alert on its social media platforms regarding an increase in Pertussis, commonly known as Whooping Cough, in school-age children throughout the county. The department emphasized the dangers of Pertussis for babies, individuals with weakened immune systems, and children who have not received the recommended vaccinations.
Symptoms of Pertussis can lead to severe complications such as apnea, pneumonia, convulsions, and encephalopathy, a brain disease that may require hospitalization. Nationally, there has been a rise in Whooping Cough cases, with 4,864 reported cases this year, according to the CDC. In Pennsylvania alone, there have been 601 reported cases as of May 25, a significant increase from the previous year.
While most patients recover from Whooping Cough
