WHAT IS WHOOPING COUGH
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths, which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The current recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are:
• Children less than 7 years old should receive five doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP), one dose at each of the following ages: 2, 4, 6 and 15-18 months and 4-6 years.
• Children 7-10 years old who are not fully vaccinated against whooping cough should get a pertussis booster, called tetanus diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap).
• Adolescents 11-18 years of age (preferably at age 11-12 years) and adults 19-64 years of age should receive a single dose of Tdap.
• Pregnant women who have not been previously vaccinated with Tdap should get one dose of Tdap preferably during the third trimester or late second trimester (after 20 weeks gestation) -- or after delivery, before leaving the hospital or birthing center with a newborn.
• Adults age 65 and older who have close contact with an infant and have not previously been vaccinated with Tdap, should receive a single dose of Tdap.
The island's local health department has confirmed two cases of pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory disease commonly called "whooping cough." The agency is encouraging parents to check their children's shot records to ensure they are vaccinated.
The Department of Public Health and Social Services reported in a press release that an 11-year-old and a 2-month-old have the disease. Health officials have determined the cases are not connected to each other or an off-island source, the release states.
Public Health Deputy Director Leo Casil said the two cases were found by private physicians.
Casil said the 11-year-old is a student at a public middle school, but couldn't say which school. He stressed that students are required to be vaccinated for whooping cough before they enter the school system.
Guam Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Robb Malay did not know which school the infected student attends. He said the school system works hand in hand with Public Health to ensure the disease doesn't spread.
The education agency is helping Public Health determine who the student came in contact with throughout the day and if the patient was contagious when school was in session, he said.
Public Health is investigating who came in contact with the individuals and will test them to see if the disease has spread.
"This is serious and we're working very fast on this," Casil said.
Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease of the respiratory tract caused by Bordetella pertussis, the release states. Unimmunized or incompletely immunized young infants are particularly vulnerable. It is primarily spread by direct contact with discharge from the nose and throat of infected individuals.
It is essential that children receive all their vaccinations on time to prevent this disease, the release states.
Public Health encourages parents to review their children's immunization records to ensure they have received the pertussis vaccine, the release stated. All physicians are advised to check routinely if their patients are appropriately vaccinated.
Casil said whooping cough symptoms include persistent and prolonged coughs and not being able to breathe because of the coughing.
All health care providers on Guam are urged to be on alert for possible cases of pertussis and to report suspect cases promptly to the Immunization Program, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, at 735-7143/7148 or 735-7135.