Featured Article:
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) – What You Need to Know
Pertussis (whooping cough) is very contagious and can cause serious illness―especially in infants too young to be fully vaccinated. Pertussis vaccines are recommended for children, teens, and adults, including pregnant women.
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.
Pregnant? Protect Yourself & Your Baby from Whooping Cough
When the source of whooping cough was identified, mothers were responsible for 30-40% of infant infections (Bisgard, 2004 & Wendelboe, 2007). Read a story about a family affected by whooping cough.
If you have not been previously vaccinated with Tdap (the whooping cough booster shot), talk with your doctor about getting one dose of Tdap, preferably during the third trimester or late second trimester – or immediately after delivery before leaving the hospital or birthing center with your newborn. Learn more about vaccine protection for pertussis.
Pertussis Vaccine Protection
There is high pertussis vaccine coverage for children nationwide. However, protection from the childhood vaccine decreases over time. Preteens, teens and adults need to be revaccinated, even if they were completely vaccinated as children.
Also, pertussis vaccines are very effective but not 100% effective. If pertussis is circulating in the community, there is still a chance that a fully vaccinated person can catch this very contagious disease. When you or your child develops a cold that includes a prolonged or severe cough, it may be pertussis. The best way to know is to contact your doctor.
Pertussis Symptoms
Pertussis can cause serious illness in infants, children and adults. The disease starts like the common cold, with runny nose or congestion, sneezing, and maybe mild cough or fever. But after 1–2 weeks, severe coughing can begin.
Unlike the common cold, pertussis can become a series of coughing fits that continues for weeks. Pertussis can cause violent and rapid coughing, over and over, until the air is gone from the lungs and you are forced to inhale with a loud "whooping" sound. In infants, the cough can be minimal or not even there.
Infants may have a symptom known as "apnea." Apnea is a pause in the child's breathing pattern. If your baby is having trouble breathing, take him to a hospital or doctor right away.
Disease Complications
Pertussis is most severe for babies; more than half of infants younger than 1 year of age who get the disease must be hospitalized. About 1 in 5 infants with pertussis get pneumonia (lung infection), and about 1 in 100 will have convulsions. In rare cases (1 in 100), pertussis can be deadly, especially in infants.
How Pertussis Spreads
People with pertussis usually spread the disease by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others, who then breathe in the pertussis bacteria. Many infants who get pertussis are infected by parents, older siblings, or other caregivers who might not even know they have the disease.
Pertussis Trends
Reported cases of pertussis vary from year to year and tend to peak every 3-5 years. In 2010, 27,550 cases of pertussis were reported in the U.S.—and many more cases go unreported. Twenty-seven deaths were reported – 25 of these deaths were in children younger than 1 year old. Since the 1980s, there's been an increase in the number of cases of pertussis, especially among teens (10–19 years of age) and babies younger than 6 months of age. In 2010, an increase in reported cases among 7-10 year olds was seen. This new trend reinforces the need for a routinely recommended booster dose of Tdap at age 11 or 12 years.
Preventing Pertussis
The best way to prevent pertussis is to get vaccinated. Parents can also help protect infants by keeping them away as much as possible from anyone who has cold symptoms or is coughing.
Vaccine Recommendations
For Infants and Children: 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 at 15 through 18 months of age, and a fifth shot is given when a child enters school, at 4 through 6 years of age. If a 7-10 year old is not up-to-date with DTaP vaccines, a dose of Tdap should be given before the 11-12 year old check up.
Source: Centers for Disease Control
Helpful Hints:
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) FAQ
Q: How common is whooping cough?
A: Even with the success of whooping cough vaccines, the disease is still common in the United States. Many cases are not diagnosed and so are not reported. Yet over the past 5 years, between 10,000 and 27,000 cases have been reported each year. Institutional outbreaks of whooping cough, such as those in a daycare center, school or hospital, are common, taking place each year in many states.
Q: Why is there more whooping cough in some years than others?
A: Reported cases of whooping cough vary from year to year and tend to peak every 3-5 years. Our last peak year nationally was in 2010 when more than 27,000 cases were reported. This pattern is not completely understood, but that’s why it’s important that everyone get vaccinated. If it weren’t for vaccines, we’d see many more cases of whooping cough.
Q: What should I do if I live in an outbreak area?
A: You can make sure you and your loved ones are up to date with recommended whooping cough vaccines. There are two types of whooping cough vaccines – DTaP for infants and children and Tdap for adolescents and adults. Getting vaccinated with Tdap is especially important for family members with and caregivers of new infants. Also, if caring for an infant, keep him or her away from anyone with cough or cold symptoms.
Vaccination recommendations:
Infants and children should receive 5 doses of the DTaP vaccine at 2, 4, and 6 months, at 15 through 18 months, and at 4 through 6 years. All 5 doses are needed for maximum protection. Children 7-10 years of age who are not fully vaccinated with DTaP should receive a dose of Tdap instead of waiting for the 11-12 year old check up.
Q: Should I delay travel to an area that is having a whooping cough outbreak
A: No, but those traveling to an area with a whooping cough outbreak should make sure they are up to date on their vaccines. People who are not vaccinated or who are under-vaccinated, including infants too young to be vaccinated, are putting themselves at risk for catching whooping cough.
Source: Centers for Disease Control
Creative Corner:
Games to Teach Kids About Personal Hygiene
Kids can sometimes be careless when it comes to personal hygiene. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note the importance of good hygiene, especially during cold and flu season, when sickness can be passed around because of unwashed hands and uncovered coughs. Therefore, good hygiene should be taught at school and at home. Make personal hygiene interesting by playing games that will help hit home the importance of hygiene. Whether in the classroom or at home, kids can learn about hygiene's importance and find the right ways to stay neat, clean and healthy.
Glitter Hands
Some children only rinse their hands quickly under water, if they wash at all. But hands should be scrubbed with an antibacterial soap for at least 15 to 20 seconds, as recommended by the CDC. Sprinkle glitter on your child's hands and challenge him off to wash the glitter with soap and water. Because glitter is naturally sticky, it will take up to 30 seconds to scrub the glitter away. Then indicate that your child should scrub off germs like he did the glitter each time that he washes. Dr. Lynn C. Smitherman, assistant professor of pediatrics at Wayne State University, notes that washing hands can greatly reduce the spread of germs.
Germ Transfer
Teach children about the spread of germs by showing how germs can live on hands and the things they touch. Pretend to sneeze, and when you do, cover your hands in a washable paint. Then go about your business, touching things around the room. The kids will see the transfer of germs. After the exercise, have the kids find and tally all the surfaces where germs now live from your transferring them around the room.
Matching Game
You can play a matching game that teaches kids the various tools for personal hygiene and which body part to use them on be creating a matching game. On one set of cards, draw pictures of soap, a toothbrush, fingernail clippers or mouthwash. Then create another set of cards that shoes hands, teeth, nails and mouth. Flip all of the cards over and have the children try to match the tool to the body part.
Good Habit, Bad Habit
Hit home the importance of good hygiene habits when you play this sorting game with children, instructs Pennsylvania State University. On pieces of paper, write 10 good hygiene habits, such as flossing each night, washing for 20 seconds or covering your mouth when you couch. On 10 more pieces of paper, write down the bad habits. Fold all of the pieces of paper and place them in a hat. The children can draw out one at a time and decide whether it's a good hygiene habit or a bad hygiene habit.
Hygiene Charades
Help kids get the motions right by playing hygiene charades. One child picks an action for hygiene, such as brushing teeth, coughing into a sleeve or taking a shower. Then the child acts out the hygiene habit without using any words. The other children guess what action is being acted out and then you talk about the proper way to do each hygiene habit.
Source: Apr 9, 2010 | By Jae Ireland, LiveStrong.com
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