Mahaska Health Partnership Explains Whooping Cough
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, can cause serious illness in people of all ages, but can be especially dangerous for infants under one year of age.
“Whooping cough usually starts off looking like a cold with a mild cough or fever,” Mahaska Health Partnership Public Health Nurse Patty Malloy, RN, explained. “Symptoms usually develop within 5 to 10 days after exposure, but can take as long as 3 weeks. Early symptoms include a runny nose, low-grade fever, mild cough and trouble breathing in infants. Since it appears as a cold early on, the whooping cough is often not diagnosed until more severe symptoms occur.”
As the disease develops, so do the symptoms. “After a week or two, the common whooping cough symptoms arise,” Malloy explained. “These include fits of rapid coughs paired with a ‘whoop’ noise, vomiting and exhaustion during or after coughing episodes.
“The reason this disease is so serious is due to the coughing episodes that leave the lungs empty of air, forcing you to inhale with a ‘whooping’ sound,” Malloy continued. “As the illness progresses, so do the symptoms, which can lead to coughing fits that can last 10 weeks or more. Though the disease is often less serious for teens and adults who have been vaccinated, it can be devastating for infants, especially those under a year.”
If diagnosed early, antibiotics can help reduce coughing symptoms and prevent spreading infection to others. “This disease is often caught too late for antibiotics and is highly contagious through cough droplets for up to two weeks after the cough begins,” Malloy cautioned. “Since it’s often caught too late, it’s especially important for those around infants and small children to ensure their vaccines are up to date.”
Whooping cough can be prevented with the pertussis vaccine, which is part of the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis) immunization. “These vaccines are given to children in five doses before their sixth birthday. However, there is also a booster available for kids around age 11 called a TDaP, which is a similar mixture to the DTaP, but with different levels of diphtheria and tetanus.
“Pregnant women are also advised to get the TDaP vaccine during each pregnancy to help protect their child,” Malloy continued. “It’s especially important for other people who will be in close contact with infants to ensure they are up to date on their vaccines. Talk to your primary care provider about whether you should receive a TDaP vaccine in order to protect those little ones in your life.”
As Public Health Coordinator, Patty Malloy, RN, is responsible for administering public health functions in Mahaska County as directed by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Patty’s role includes educating the public, vaccine and immunization monitoring, biohazard and emergency preparations as well as general health and wellness education. For more information regarding pertussis and whether you should be vaccinated, contact your primary care provider.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, visit mahaskahealth.org.
