Pertussis, or Whooping Cough as it’s sometimes called,is not a disease of the past and is, in fact, currently on the rise in most states throughout the country. Pertussis is highly contagious and potentially fatal to any infant under 12 months of age but is preventable, in most cases, through vaccination. 

 

Pertussis is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It can be a serious illness for anyone, but life-threatening to newborns and young infants. The infection is spread through contact with droplets from a sneeze or cough of an infected person. Symptoms of pertussis vary depending upon age and whether someone has been vaccinated, but usually starts with cold-like symptoms including a mild cough. A persistent cough with spasms may develop after one to two weeks. In the absence of a cough, infants may develop ‘apnea,’ a brief pause in the child’s breathing pattern. Often, an infant or child with pertussis may cough violently and repeatedly until all the air is expelled from their lungs forcing them to inhale with a loud ‘whooping’ sound. Extreme coughing may result in vomiting and exhaustion. These coughing fits could last up to ten weeks if left untreated. Early diagnosis and treatment of pertussis with antibiotics can lessen the severity of the infection and help prevent its spread.

 

While no vaccine is 100% effective, it remains the first line of defense in preventing pertussis. Infants should receive the vaccine, known as DTaP at two, four and six months of age. A booster shot should be given between 15 and 18 months of age, and again when a child enters school between 4 and 6 years of age. All five doses are required for maximum protection and since immunity wears off over time, adolescents and adults up to 64 years of age require another booster known as Tdap, especially if they’re going to be around infants too young to be vaccinated. Both the Tdap and DTaP vaccines are readily available through primary care providers or the health department. Children up to 18 years can get the vaccine at no charge through the Vaccines for Children Program. Researchers have found that in up to 80% of cases, infants caught pertussis from a family member. As previously mentioned, it is possible to get pertussis even after you’ve been vaccinated, but in such cases the infection is usually less severe.        

  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been more than seven thousand reported cases of pertussis nationwide so far this year as compared to about eight thousand cases

for all of 2009. California leads the nation with more than 1500 confirmed cases of pertussis and seven infant deaths, the worst season for the disease in 50 years. New York State has seen twice the number of cases of whooping cough so far this year with Oneida County reporting 10 cases through July as compared to the same number for all of 2009. The number of reported cases of pertussis may reflect a fraction of the actual occurrences of the illness in that many may go undiagnosed and are treated as a common cold or other upper respiratory illness.

 

The Oneida County Health Department has taken a pro-active approach to limiting the spread of pertussis in our community. We have recently completed a mailing to Pediatricians, Family Practitioners and Obstetricians of informational sheets tailored to their specialties which outline the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of pertussis. Physicians were also provided ‘tear off pads’ urging patients from adolescence to 64 years of age to get the Tdap booster and a schedule of the County’s immunization clinics in both Utica and Rome. All area hospitals and Urgent Care facilities were provided laminated posters detailing the symptoms, recommended testing and prescribed treatment for suspected pertussis cases. Oneida County Health Clinic schedule information is also provided on the poster.