Due to the recent media releases regarding pertussis, I am
sending this information. To all staff
and parents/guardians: I hope this
information is helpful.
Pertussis,
or whooping cough, is a vaccine preventable respiratory illness that can cause
serious complications. It is caused by
a bacterium, Bordatella pertussis. People can get pertussis by breathing in droplets that have been coughed
or sneezed into the air by an infected person. It can also be spread by direct contact with discharge from the nose or
throat of an infected person. Unvaccinated children and infants who have not been fully vaccinated are
at highest risk for getting pertussis. Unfortunately, vaccinated people are also vulnerable, since immunity
decreases over 5-10 years. Most vaccinated
older teens/adults only get a mild case (estimates show 7% of all adult colds
are really pertussis), but these teens/adults can spread the disease to the
high-risk groups (infants, unvaccinated people and those with poor immune
systems).
The illness
usually begins with mild cold-like symptoms. Any fever is usually under 101
degrees. Within 2 weeks, the cough
becomes much worse with uncontrolled rapid coughing spells followed by an
intake of breath that sounds like a “whoop”. Coughing spells may sometimes be so bad that the child may have a hard
time eating, drinking or even breathing. This cough can be worse at night and last 1-2 months. Years ago, pertussis was known as the “100
day cough”. Persons are most likely to
spread the illness in the first 2 weeks after the cough starts.
Only your
physician can diagnose pertussis. This
is done by swabbing the back of the patient’s nasal passages and testing for
the bacteria. Treatment with
antibiotics (usually Zithromax) does not cure the illness, but can make the
illness less severe and reduce risk of further spread. Infected persons can still spread pertussis
until five days after antibiotic treatment has begun.
Here are
some suggestions to control the spread of the disease:
1.
Make sure any children in your home are up to date on their
vaccinations.
2.
Make sure to wash your hands frequently. Hand washing is an inexpensive and effective
way to prevent the spread of disease. Teachers and school nurses are encouraged to remind students to wash their
hands during the school day.
3.
Use respiratory etiquette. When coughing or sneezing, use a tissue to cover your cough or
sneeze. If no tissues are available,
cough or sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of tissues properly. If
someone around you is coughing or sneezing, offer them a tissue.
4.
If you or someone in your family is concerned or has symptoms,
please call your family physician. Your
physician can do appropriate testing and prescribe antibiotics to the patient
and close contacts if actually needed. |