Today I came across an alarming news alert from the: Washington State Department of Health. It talks about the increasing rates of Pertussis in Washington. Part of my job is to educate people on the need to get vaccinated to prevent illness. One of the most common vaccines I recommend for my patients is the Tdap vaccine. This vaccine protects against tetanus and pertussis, which is also called Whooping Cough and can be fatal in babies. The news letter, from Washington State Department of Health, does a great job explaining what pertussis is and how we can prevent it in our homes. I pulled out the main points I think are important to know. Please read, pass on this info, and talk to your doctor about getting your Tdap vaccine. Help your community avoid an epidemic of Pertussis.  Get yourself and your children of age vaccinated.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Across the river in Washington state, health officials on Tuesday said pertussis (whooping cough) has reached epidemic levels in the state and urged vaccines for all children and adults to help prevent the disease.

About 640 cases have been reported in 23 counties as of March 31, putting the state on track to have the highest number of reported cases in decades, officials said. There were 94 cases reported during the same period last year. No deaths have been reported this year.

photo from http://kidshealth.org

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes a long-lasting and often severe cough. The illness usually starts with mild cold symptoms or cough, which can turn into severe coughing spells followed by gagging, or vomiting and sometimes a “whoop” sound when trying to catch the breath.

* Infants with pertussis may eat poorly, turn blue, or stop breathing. Infants are also at highest risk for severe pertussis complications that require hospitalization such as difficulty breathing, pneumonia, convulsions, and even death.

How does whooping cough spread?

Whooping cough spreads by coughing and sneezing. Infants often get whooping cough from family members or caregivers who don’t know they’re sick. The disease in older kids and adults can be quite mild and if untreated, an infected person can spread pertussis for several weeks.

Who gets whooping cough?

photo via: http://www.themodchik.com

Anyone exposed to the bacteria can get whooping cough, but severe illness is more common in infants and young kids who have not been immunized or who have not yet had enough doses of vaccine to be fully protected. No vaccine is 100 percent effective, so even vaccinated people can catch this very contagious disease.  Immunity, either from having the disease or from getting vaccinated, decreases over time so it’s important to get booster doses of pertussis vaccine on time.

How is pertussis prevented?

Get vaccinated to prevent pertussis. Kids and adults can get vaccinated to help stop outbreaks and lower the risk of infection to babies and others most likely to get severe cases of pertussis.

*The Tdap booster vaccine is very important for everyone who will have contact with new infants, especially pregnant women, family members, and health care workers.

Where can I get more information?

• Your local health department

• Communicable Disease Epidemiology at 206-418-5500 or 877-539-4344 (toll free)

• Office of Immunization and Child Profile at 360-236-3595

In health, 

Tara Arnold, RN