Louisiana Parents Warned About Illness Spreading Amongst Children

A respiratory illness that is preventable is spreading amongst children in Louisiana, and it has sadly cost two children their lives.

FOX 8 reports that whooping cough is spreading and now medical professionals want parents to know that this is a serious issue and they should be on the lookout for symptoms in their children.

Whooping cough is often thought of as just a common cold in kids, but if not treated properly it can be deadly.

Mark Kline, M.D., the Physician-in-Chief at Manning Family Children’s told FOX 8 News, “The serious phase of the disease occurs when fits of coughing happen and with those a child can have oxygen levels dip in the blood, there can be seizures, damage to the brain and even death in rare cases.”

Children with whooping cough often show the following signs early in in the illness: fever, runny nose, and mild cough. However, those symptoms can escalate quickly, and they should not be ignored.

In the past year, doctors say that there have been nearly 120 cases of whooping cough reported, and that number is on the rise.

Those with the CDC say that they are seeing kids both vaccinated and unvaccinated go in with dangerous respiratory illnesses and some are being hospitalized due to the severity of their condition.

Still, most doctors say that children who are completely vaccinated have a better chance of overcoming whooping cough, versus those who are not vaccinated or fully vaccinated.

Doctor Jennifer Avegno tells FOX 8 in New Orleans that they will continue to promote vaccinations, even after Louisiana Surgeon General, Ralph Abraham sent a letter to medical professionals saying that the state will no longer promote vaccinations.

Here's a good report for parents to watch on whooping cough.