Tioga County Public Health is advising the public that multiple cases of Pertussis (also known as Whooping Cough) have been reported in Tioga County and across New York State. Review the listed symptoms, make sure your family is up to date on their pertussis vaccination, and contact your healthcare provider if you have concerns about yourself or someone else in your household showing signs of the virus.<\/p>\n
Early symptoms: Stage 1 – Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Runny nose or nasal congestion <\/p>\n
\u2022 Low-grade fever (less than 100.4\u00b0F)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Mild, occasional cough (babies do not do this)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Apnea (life-threatening pauses in breathing)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Cyanosis (turning blue or purple) in babies and young children<\/p>\n
In its early stages, whooping cough appears to be nothing more than the common cold. Therefore, doctors often do not suspect or diagnose it until the more severe symptoms appear.<\/p>\n
Later symptoms: Stage 2 – One to two weeks after the first symptoms start, people with whooping cough may develop rapid, violent, and uncontrolled coughing fits. These coughing fits usually last 1 to 6 weeks but can last for up to 10 <\/span>weeks. Coughing fits generally get worse and become more common as the illness continues. Coughing fits can cause people to:<\/p>\n \u2022 Make a high-pitched \u201cwhoop\u201d sound when they are finally able to inhale at the end of a coughing fit<\/p>\n \u2022 Vomit during or after coughing fits<\/p>\n \u2022 Feel very tired after the coughing fit, but usually seem well in-between fits<\/p>\n \u2022 Struggle to breathe<\/p>\n