According to the Ministry of Health’s regular infectious diseases report, it is one of many diseases that is on the rise compared to last year.
The other problems include infection, diarrhoea, and hands, foot and mouth disease.
GET JABBED, SAY DOCTORS
But whooping cough can be readily prevented through vaccination, said specialists.
A federal rebate is available to those who want the vaccination. Physicians also advise people to update their vaccinations because they only work for ten years.
The federal childhood immunization schedule includes a whooping cough shot. Children get their first shot from two to 18 months, then a boost at around 10 to 11 years older.
The illness affects children under the age of one the most.
According to Dr. Low Kah Tzay, consultant at the Anson International Paediatrics &, Child Development Clinic,” they can cough, vomit, and be thirsty,” and some of them is also cough and cause eye bleeding.
” In the worst-case situation, particularly in very young children, they can actually obtain mental haemorrhage from severe vomiting. But of course, some of them can really be breathless, and particularly if they have a record of asthma”.
Older children may even end up being hospitalised for more care, he added.
As families take their kids overseas for the holidays, according to Dr. Low, the doctor has seen more instances of roaring cough.
” When they come ( back ), they cough longer than the usual three to five days, and the cough is very deep … and disturbs their sleep and daily activities”, he noted.
Women are typically advised to get the whooping cough shot after their second month of pregnancy to better guard their newborns.
While children and the elderly are most resilient, Dr Zhang Qi, who practises at Kingsway Medical Clinic, said he just treated a “big cluster of middle-aged boys” who presented with signs of whooping cough.
” My guess is that they were only vaccinated when they’re young, but not like ladies when they are pregnant, so ( the men ) may have lost their immunity”, he added.