Pertussis: Why it is important to be immunized

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brandi Maeweathers
  • 509th Medical Operations Squadron
WHITEMAN AFB, MO --  Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease marked by severe coughing. It is named after the "whoop" sound children and adults make when they try to breathe in during or after a severe coughing spell.

Pertussis is caused by bacteria that is found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person, and is spread through close contact when an infected person talks, sneezes, or coughs.

Pertussis can occur at any age, but infants and young children are more susceptible
of having life-threatening results.

Individuals with mild cases of Pertussis can transmit the illness to non-vaccinated
and partially vaccinated infants and children that can develop into more serious complications such as pneumonia, seizures, encephalopathy (swelling of the brain), severe ear infections and anorexia (severe restriction of food intake).

According to the Center for Disease Control, Pertussis cases have quadrupled in adults since 2001.

Pertussis usually starts with cold or flu-like symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, fever and a mild cough. These symptoms can last up to two weeks and are followed by increasingly severe coughing spells. Fevers, if present, are usually mild. Symptoms appear between 6 - 21 days (average 7-10) after exposure to the bacteria.

In addition to the "whoop" sound during coughing, individuals will generally develop a productive mucus. The lips and nails may turn blue due to lack of oxygen. Vomiting may also occur during an episode.

Mild Pertussis is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are the same as those of a cold. Usually a prolonged cough is present, but without the "whoop". Milder symptoms usually affect all age groups, but are increasing among school children. The coughing attacks may last for many months or just a few days in the mild form of the disease.

While there is no lifelong protection against Pertussis, immunization is the best preventive measure for your child. The vaccine to protect your child against whooping cough is the diphtheria, tetanus and Pertussis vaccine and should be administered in five doses: at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months of age and 4 - 6 years of age.

It is very important that your child receives all five doses for maximum protection.

For more information, contact public health at 687-2179 or email to brandi.maeweathers@whiteman.af.mil or natalie.cooper@whiteman.af.mil.