Wednesday, March 25, 2009
North Central District Health Department has laboratory confirmation of pertussis (whooping cough) in an Idaho County infant and is currently coordinating efforts with the family to identify individuals most at risk of an exposure.
Pertussis is a communicable disease that is spread through the air from an infected person during coughing, sneezing or talking. Pertussis begins with cold-like symptoms and a cough that becomes progressively worse over 1-2 weeks. Coughing usually happens in long bouts, sometimes followed by a whooping noise. Antibiotics can make the disease milder in those infected and will prevent transmission of the illness to others. Individuals exposed to pertussis should also be given antibiotics to prevent the disease, even if they were vaccinated.
Respiratory etiquette: covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, disposing of used tissues and good hand washing are key prevention measures in reducing the spread of any respiratory illness.
Prior to the availability of pertussis vaccine in the 1940’s, over 200,000 cases were reported each year in the United States. Since widespread use of the vaccine began, the U.S. averages 4,400 cases per year.
Children should get 5 doses of pertussis containing vaccine Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTap), one dose at each of the following ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months, and 4-6 years of age. Adolescents and adults need protection from pertussis too. Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) was licensed in 2005 and is recommended as a one time dose for adolescents ages 11-12 and adults under the age of 65. New mothers who have never received Tdap should get a dose as soon as possible after delivery.
To learn more, please call your health care provider or North Central District Health Department.