Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Pertussis, commonly referred to as whooping cough, has made a comeback in recent years. The reason behind the spike, epidemiologists believe, has to do with both a lack of education on who needs to be imunized and the diminished strength of a newer form of the vaccine.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes uncontrollable, violent coughing. A deep "whooping" sound is often heard when the patient tries to take a breath.
Transmission of pertussis is direct contact or respirator droplet spread person to person. Infants and young children — females more than males — are at the highest risk of contracting whooping cough. Symptoms start up to seven days after contact with the organism and will last six weeks or more.
The outbreak
Related:
Mommy Medicine: Protecting your family from pertussis
The world of health and medicine can be confusing to many parents. But Nurse Suzy is here to help clarify some of the issues that are important to you and your family. This week's question deals with the recent outbreak of pertussis among adults.In Utah, we have seen more than 800 cases of pertussis this year. The Utah Department of Health said that brings Utah to its highest levels of reported whooping cough cases since 1946, when vaccines were made available for the infectious bacterial disease.
Earlier this month, health workers told KSL News "pertussis spikes about every five years, so adults ... should get vacinated, mainly to keep from spreading the bacteria to (children)."
There have also been reports indicating a lack of effectiveness in the newer, safer vaccines could be to blame for the recent outbreak. In particular, a study from the New England Journal of Medicine "found the protective effect (of the vaccine) weakens dramatically soon after a youngster gets the last of the five recommended shots at around age 6."
The treatment
Regardless of the causes behind the outbreak, you should know what to expect if you contract the disease. Once a doctor diagonses you with pertussis, treatment will likely include antibiotics, such as erythromycin, which can make the symptoms go away more quickly. Unfortunately, most patients are diagnosed too late, when antibiotics aren't very effective. But medicines prescribed by your doctor can help reduce your ability to spread the disease to others.
Pertussis patients younger than 18 months old need constant supervision because their breathing may temporarily stop during coughing spells. Infants with severe cases should be hospitalized.
Fluids may be given through a vein if coughing spells are severe enough to prevent the person from drinking enough fluids. Sedatives (medicines to make you sleepy) may be prescribed for young children. Cough mixtures, expectorants, and suppressants typically aren't helpful and should not be used.
Plenty of rest and a quiet environment will help to reduce coughing, as will frequent suctioning of nose and mouth. It is not uncommon that these symptoms can lead to hospitalization or death.
Serious complications of whooping cough, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, include:
- Pneumonia
- Scarring of the lungs
- Convulsions
- Seizure disorder (permanent)
- Nose bleeds
- Ear infections
- Brain damage from lack of oxygen
- Bleeding in the brain (cerebral hemorrhage)
- Mental retardation
- Slowed or stopped breathing (apnea)
- Death
Contracting a full-blown case of pertussis eliminates the need for pertussis immunization. Erythromycin (antibiotics) should be given to all the patient's close friends, family members and household contacts for 14 days.
During a pertussis outbreak, unimmunized children under age 7 should not attend school or public gatherings, and should be isolated from anyone known or suspected to be infected. This quarantine of sorts should last until 14 days after the last reported case.
Suzanne Carlile, "Nurse Suzy," has been a nurse since 1982. Her main focus is critical care and nursing education. She holds a master's degree in nursing, is a Certified Emergency Nurse, and a member of NNSDO Intermountain West Chapter.
