03/26/2026
🚨 PERTUSSIS (WHOOPING COUGH) UPDATE AT TRIFECTA 🚨
We’ve recently diagnosed cases of pertussis in our clinic—so here’s what to watch for 👇
Persistent dry cough that comes in fits
Runny nose, mild fever (early on—can look like a cold)
Coughing spells that can last weeks and may cause vomiting or a “whoop” sound
Infants may not cough—look for pauses in breathing, color change, or gagging
➡️ Pertussis is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets
💊 Treatment:
Typically treated with antibiotics like azithromycin
If diagnosed, patients should stay home for the full 5-day antibiotic course
💉 What about the vaccine?
The DTaP/Tdap vaccine is still the best protection, but it’s not perfect
✔️ Immunity fades over time
✔️ Vaccinated individuals can still get pertussis, though often milder
✔️ We are currently seeing positive cases even in fully vaccinated patients (this is the case with at least one of our patients)
👶 Important: Infants are at highest risk for severe complications, including hospitalization and death
🛑 Reassurance for our families:
Due to our protocols we already had in place to separate sick and well patients, we have ZERO known exposures to other patients within our office—including while continuing to care for families with varying vaccination choices
🌿 Integrative option (educational only NOT MEDICAL ADVICE):
Some families ask about vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) protocols (in my opinion, this may be applied for symptom relief, but not to treat the actual infection or prevent spread):
🔗https://drsuzanne.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Vitamin-C-Whooping-Cough-PDF.pdf
⚠️ PLEASE NOTE, This resource is NOT peer-reviewed and should only be considered after discussion with your healthcare provider
🤍 As always—no judgment, just information.
If your child has a lingering cough, we’re here to help.
