The Choctaw Health Center has treated confirmed cases of pertussis, better known as whooping cough. Thus far, there are eight isolated cases on the reservation, five in the last two weeks including one death of an infant in Meridian. Choctaw Health Center officials say they are working hard to limit this outbreak.

Whooping cough is a contagious infection caused by bacteria and is treatable. Whooping cough infection causes severe coughing spells that often end in a “whooping” sound when the person breathes in. The pertussis vaccine has decreased the number of cases, but the incidence of pertussis has increased steadily since the 1980s.

Up to 5,000-7,000 cases of pertussis were reported annually in recent years and 8,296 cases were reported in 2002.

The most seriously affected are infants less than six months old, before they can be fully immunized against it. Whooping cough is beginning to show up again in teens and adults whose immunity has worn off from the immunizations received as children.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 children died from pertussis in the United States in 2003.

The first symptoms of whooping cough are similar to those of a common cold — runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, and mild fever. After one to two weeks, the cough becomes coughing spells that can last more than a minute and cause the child to turn red or purple. At the end of the cough spell, the child may make a “whooping” sound when they breathe in or they may vomit. Between cough spells, the person usually feels well. Adults and adolescents with whooping cough may have milder symptoms such as a prolonged cough, but without the whooping sound.

Treatment should be started as soon as whooping cough is suspected and close contacts of the patient can be given medicine to prevent them from coming down with the infection, if started early.

Because adults and adolescents often get whooping cough without realizing it, then pass it to the young children, it is recommended that teens and adults get re-immunized to protect themselves and the very young. The adult pertussis immunization can be given to those age 9 years, if it has been at least 2 years since their last tetanus shot. Revaccination is very important in outbreak situations.

Like measles, pertussis is highly contagious according to information published by the CDC with up to 90 percent of susceptible household contacts developing clinical disease following exposure to an index case.

Treatment, preventative medicine and the pertussis vaccine are all available at the Choctaw Health Center. Contact Community Health Services (601) 389 -6259 for more information.



Pertussis (whopping cough) facts



i What: Pertussis (whooping cough) is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, and may at first appear to be a common cold. It mainly affects children under 1.

i Transmission: People may catch pertussis by inhaling

contaminated droplets of an infected person’s cough or sneeze. It’s highly contagious. Experts believe 70-100 percent of all non-immunized family members will develop whooping cough if they live in the same household as an infected person.

i Symptoms: First symptoms are similar to those of a common cold. After one or two weeks coughing may last for more than a minute. Between coughing spells the patient may make the

characteristic “whooping” sound while gasping for air while coughing. The cough will likely produce a thick mucous. Lips and nails may turn blue from lack of oxygen.

i Recovery: After usually one to two weeks of common cold

symptoms there will be two to four weeks of severe coughing. Recovery takes three to four weeks.

i Prevention: A vaccine is

available as part of the DTaP

(Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) immunization, given in five doses before a child turns 6 years old.

i Treatment: Usually treated in a hospital. At home a cool-mist vaporizer can help soothe a child’s irritated lungs.

SOURCE: Mississippi State

Department of Health