Last week, the California Department of Public Health declared that there is an epidemic outbreak of pertussis (“whooping cough”) in California: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/NR10-041.aspx
Pertussis can be a major, even life threatening, infection for infants who have not yet received their routine vaccinations and for certain other groups. Public health experts believe that infants get pertussis from adolescents and adults around them who have pertussis but who may not be severely ill themselves. Adolescents and adults get pertussis because the immunity they had as a result of their childhood vaccinations gradually lessens with time.
A typical case of pertussis starts with a cough and runny nose for one-to-two weeks, followed by up to several weeks, or longer, of ongoing coughing fits. While some persons produce the characteristic “whooping” sound during these coughing fits, many others do not. Fever is not a prominent symptom, but may be low grade in nature.
Pertussis is spread by close contact with an infected person who is coughing or sneezing. If you have been in close contact with someone who has pertussis, you should consult your health care provider, especially if you are likely to be in close contact with infants or others who could become severely ill if they acquired the disease. Your health care provider can advise whether you should receive a course of antibiotics (to lessen the likelihood you acquire the infection). Even more importantly, your health care provider can advise whether you should receive a booster vaccination against pertussis, which is now available for most adults and adolescents and which is strongly recommended by public health authorities.
For more information on pertussis, please see the following publication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Robert M. Heiligman, MD, MPH
Medical Director
Employment Development Department
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) – What You Need To Know
Pertussis (whooping cough) is very contagious and can cause serious illness―especially in infants who are too young to be fully vaccinated. Make sure your infants and young children get their recommended five shots on time. Adolescent and adult vaccination is also important, especially for families with new infants.
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a very contagious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. Among vaccine-preventable diseases, pertussis is one of the most commonly occurring ones in the United States.
The best way to prevent pertussis is to get vaccinated. In the US, the recommended pertussis vaccine for children is called DTaP. This is a safe and effective combination vaccine that protects children against three diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. For maximum protection against pertussis, children need five DTaP shots. The first three shots are given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. The fourth shot is given between 15 and 18 months of age, and a fifth shot is given when a child enters school, at 4–6 years of age. Parents can also help protect infants by keeping them away as much as possible from anyone who has cold symptoms or is coughing.
