National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
Centers for Disease Control
Vaccine Information
Prompt diagnosis and treatment of whooping cough is critical when it comes to stopping the spread of the disease to others. Initial symptoms of pertussis may resemble a cold or allergies, and low grade fever may be present. Major symptoms of the disease include a cough that lasts for greater than two weeks that may be stronger at night. A whooping sound with inhalation or vomiting may occur after a bout of coughing. While it is easily treated with antibiotics, whopping cough still claims lives. According to the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio had three pertussis deaths during 2008. Those at highest risk for serious complications are infants and individuals with underlying medical conditions.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is highly contagious and typically occurs in school age children. It is spread in much the same way as a cold, through close exposure to coughing and sneezing from an infected person. Pertussis is a vaccine preventable illness. Children typically receive the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) vaccine at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months, and 4 to 6 years. A single booster of Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) is recommended for individuals between the ages of 11 years to 64 years in lieu of one Td (tetanus, diphtheria) vaccination, which is given every 10 years. It is important to remember that while the pertussis vaccine is considered to be effective, some children and adults who have been fully vaccinated may still be susceptible to this infection.
Those who have been diagnosed with the disease should stay home until they have received five days of antibiotic treatment; those who have been in close contact with the individual should also receive antibiotic treatment to prevent them from developing illness.
Schools within Clermont County who have had cases of pertussis have been working closely with the Health District, following requirements and recommendations to help eliminate additional cases of this illness. “While disinfecting surfaces that the infected person has come in contact with is helpful with some illnesses, disinfection measures are of little impact in preventing the spread of pertussis. The best way to stop the spread of the disease is to obtain treatment quickly if whooping cough is suspected or you’ve been in close contact with an infected person,” said Lambert. Covering coughs and sneezes, practicing frequent hand washing, and seeking medical evaluation for cough illness are also important steps in preventing spread of the illness.
Updated: 12/12/2008