Whooping Cough Activity Continues in Iowa
The latest data from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) indicates over 650 confirmed and probable cases of pertussis (whooping cough) were reported in 2010, and activity continues to be strong so far in 2011. The actual number of cases is probably much larger since most adults with pertussis are not diagnosed. There were approximately 66 percent more cases of pertussis reported in 2010 than the average of the past five years. While children ages 5 to 14 years make up the bulk of reported cases, it’s important to note that adults are considered the primary ‘spreader’ of the disease.
“Children receive pertussis-containing vaccine at 6 months of age, and are recommended to get a booster dose of pertussis-containing vaccine at 11 or 12 years of age,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “Typically adults haven’t had a pertussis vaccination since childhood so they probably have no immunity left to pertussis. When they get the disease, their symptoms are milder and are often mistaken for a lingering cough; thus, they spread the disease to others without knowing they have it.”
It’s especially important that adults receive pertussis-containing vaccine because they can spread the disease to infants who are too young to be immunized; this is called cocooning – providing a cocoon of safety around the child who cannot be vaccinated. In infants, pertussis can be severe and even deadly. Adults can receive the Tdap (the adult tetanus vaccine that also contains whooping cough vaccine) immunization.
The most common symptoms of pertussis in children are fits of coughing, followed by vomiting, a ‘whooping’ sound as air is inhaled, and difficulty sleeping. In adults, however, only a lingering cough that can last months is often seen. This is why many adults do not realize they have pertussis. While treatment with antibiotics will prevent an individual from spreading the disease further after being diagnosed with pertussis, the cough may continue to last for weeks.
For more information about pertussis, including the Iowa Pertussis Update, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/Cade/default.aspx?group=3#DI.
Source: Iowa Department of Public Health
