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| Vaccinations in 1947 |
Several years ago The University of Texas Health Science Center reminded us a nagging cough might be whooping cough, as the United States had been experiencing its worst outbreak in 50 years.
In 2010 six states reported 1,500 cases of whooping cough with six fatalities.Public health officials say this is a really serious problem and time for folks to look carefully at their immunization records and those of their children.
"As parents, we should take every opportunity to get immunizations for our children—and ourselves—and get them in a timely fashion," said Lynnette Mazur, MD, professor of pediatrics at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. "But, first, get your child to a doctor for a proper diagnosis if he or she has a runny nose or cough that lasts more than a
week."
week."
Pertussis,or whooping cough came back for three reasons according to Mazur. The vaccine weakens over time. There are also gaps in group immunization and the fact there is a contagious factor is important.
"The vaccine has a limited effectiveness time span, lasting only six to 10 years," Mazur explained. "Outbreaks cycle every three to five years and then settle down. But it's always there." Adults may be ignorant of the fact they need vaccinations after childhood, as is recommended for whooping cough.
She also said that for the pertussis vaccine to be effective against serious outbreak, “at least 92 to 94 percent of the community must be vaccinated.” This is the “herd” in herd immunity: The more contagious the disease, the greater the density needs to be of vaccinated populations.
“Pertussis is so contagious that the average number of secondary infection cases that are produced by a single index [first identified] case is 12 to 17,” Mazur maintained.
Experts tell us pertussis results from bacteria that invades the nose, mouth and throat. That bacteria is called Bordetella pertussis. When someone with the disease coughs or sneezes it can spread through the air by droplets. It may only mildly affect school-aged children but can be serious in babies under the age of one year. It can also cause seizures, pneumonia and even death. Up to 1% of children who get the whooping cough die from
the disease.
the disease.
The disease shows up 7 to 10 days from the date of exposure, but the incubation can be as much as four to 21 days.
Symptoms might at first be difficult to diagnose because they resemble a cold,
with a runny nose, low-grade or no fever and mild cough.
with a runny nose, low-grade or no fever and mild cough.
But the disease, once it is fully realized by the body can be a violent assault with major coughing spells where people have difficulty taking a breath. The cough can linger for months, and no amount of cough syrup will do any good.
Whooping cough can not only cause problems at the time of the disease outbreak but some long-range problems for those whose symptoms are particularly acute. The journalist writing this had the disease in childhood, which was the cause of a hernia that required surgery at age 15. For a hernia in a female is rare enough added to the fact that it can make childbirth more difficult.
Whooping cough can not only cause problems at the time of the disease outbreak but some long-range problems for those whose symptoms are particularly acute. The journalist writing this had the disease in childhood, which was the cause of a hernia that required surgery at age 15. For a hernia in a female is rare enough added to the fact that it can make childbirth more difficult.
The standard preemptive strike is DTaP, a combination vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis and remains the vaccine of choice.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that by age
7, children should have received DTaP shots at 2, 4 and 6 months and once between 15 and 18 months, and again between 4 and 6 years.
Adults should substitute one of their 10-year tetanus/diphtheria (Td) boosters with a one-time DTaP dose.
This year Victoria announced free vaccines for expectant mothers from the third trimester until the baby reaches six months of age. The announcement came after the government saw a serious increase in whooping cough during the past year.
Why the resurgence in recent years? California experts tell us it has to do with fewer people getting vaccinated and the fact that adults may fail to get a booster shot since the vaccines only last about ten years or so.
7, children should have received DTaP shots at 2, 4 and 6 months and once between 15 and 18 months, and again between 4 and 6 years.
Adults should substitute one of their 10-year tetanus/diphtheria (Td) boosters with a one-time DTaP dose.
This year Victoria announced free vaccines for expectant mothers from the third trimester until the baby reaches six months of age. The announcement came after the government saw a serious increase in whooping cough during the past year.
Why the resurgence in recent years? California experts tell us it has to do with fewer people getting vaccinated and the fact that adults may fail to get a booster shot since the vaccines only last about ten years or so.
Experts say adults as well as children should be vaccinated.
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