An outbreak of whooping cough in Elko County was declared on Oct. 20, with 14 cases reported to the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health since July of this year. Danika Williams, an epidemiologist with the department, said while the likelihood of an outbreak in Winnemucca was difficult to predict, there were steps the public could take to limit their chances of getting the disease.
The best way to avoid the infection, said Williams, is to get vaccinated against whooping cough, also known as pertussis. Also important is to know which people are most at risk for complications arising from the illness.
Infants, women in their third trimester of pregnancy and those with preexisting health conditions such as asthma or immunosuppressive illnesses are most at risk.
Pregnant women exposed to the bacteria run the risk of passing the infection on to their newborn. Infants are at risk because children are not fully immunized until they have received five doses of the vaccine. Infants usually receive the first dose at two months.
The DtaP (Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) vaccine is part of the normal round of vaccines given to children, and is administered on a set schedule.
The Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis) is a booster shot given to adults and older children and adolescents.
Williams said to protect the most vulnerable population, those who will come in contact with infants should receive a booster shot. This process of immunizing everyone in a family with an infant is called cocooning, and creates a zone of protection for the baby.
In general, parents are advised to keep sick children home from school and daycare.
"If kids are suffering from an illness, keep them home," said Williams. Limiting exposure to other children will limit the spread of a disease like whooping cough and also colds and flu.
Additionally, it's possible to confuse the symptoms of pertussis with those of the common cold and influenza. Keeping up with routine childhood vaccines and seasonal vaccines will help alleviate that problem said Williams.
If you suspect you or your child has whooping cough, schedule a visit with your healthcare provider, said Williams. Pertussis is most contagious in the beginning and it's best to get treated and tested right away.
"Proper hand washing, covering your coughs and sneezes are good practices for everyone," said Williams.
Pertussis is a contagious, bacterial infection that effects the respiratory system.
A child with pertussis or whooping cough may appear to just have a typical cold. Early symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, fever and a mild cough.
After one to two weeks, the cough may become more severe and even violent enough to cause vomiting. It is also common for sufferers to experience exhaustion after extreme coughing.
The name "whooping cough" comes from the sound made when sufferers breath in loudly after a coughing fit. While some children make the whooping noise, it is important to note that others do not.
Even people who have been vaccinated or who previously had whooping cough may experience a mild form of the illness. The symptoms, though, are milder than for those who have not been vaccinated or had the disease said Williams.
Whooping cough requires booster vaccinations as neither having the illness nor being vaccinated provides lifetime immunity.
In addition to the small outbreak in Elko, California is experiencing an epidemic of pertussis with 8,749 cases reported to CDPH as of Oct. 7.
Contact Stephanie Morton at s.morton@winnemuccapublishing.net.[[In-content Ad]]
