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| Quick reference medical handouts used
by Pediatric offices |
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Whooping Cough on the Rise
Pertussis or "whooping cough," as it is
more commonly known, is a severe childhood disease that can cause long coughing
spells, sometimes lasting for weeks on end. A sick child will often cough for
five to ten minutes before drawing in air with a loud gasp, or "whoop"
sound. Even though pertussis is preventable through regular childhood
immunizations, more than 7,000 U.S. children contracted the disease last year.
In some cases, pertussis can cause pneumonia,
swelling of the brain, ear infection, dehydration, anorexia, and even death. In
order to raise awareness of this devastating disease, NAPNAP (The National
Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners) has recently launched www.pertussis.com,
an educational tool to increase awareness of pertussis and better
understand how it can be spread.
Pertussis.com answers the most frequently asked
questions parents may have on the disease in both English and Spanish. The Web
site also allows the user to see and hear pertussis over the Internet.
Many parents don't understand how infants can
catch pertussis. Older children, adults, or parents may have a mild form of the
disease and not recognize it. In these mild cases of the disease, symptoms often
mimic the common cold and the "whoop" sound, for which the disease is
known, may not be present. But unsurprisingly, it is adults, adolescents, and
older children who are the most common carriers of infection to more vulnerable
infants and children in their own homes. Milder symptoms usually affect all age
groups, but research points out that mild disease is increasing even among
school age children.
So far this year, unusually high numbers of
pertussis-infected children in Texas, Arkansas, Washington, Ohio, Minnesota,
Iowa, and Virginia show that the disease is on the rise. Since 1976 when U.S.
cases reached an all-time low, the disease has made a steady comeback, in part
due to under-immunization. It is important to remember that no child is
protected against pertussis without completing the entire series of three
immunizations with a DTaP vaccine.
Pertussis is one of the most contagious diseases
known to affect children in the U.S. Young children under 12 months of age
remain the highest risk group for severe illness, complications, and death. In
2000 alone, pertussis claimed the lives of 17 U.S. infants.
To get the facts on pertussis and keep out
families, schools, and communities pertussis free go to:
Even though pertussis is preventable through
regular childhood immunizations, more than 7,000 U.S. children contracted the
disease last year.
As a reminder, this information should not be relied on as
medical advice and is not intended to replace the advice of your child’s pediatrician.
Please read our full disclaimer.
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