3 things you should know about protecting your family from whooping cough
With a recent outbreak of whooping cough in Wisconsin, we've put together a few must-knows about the disease and how you can protect your family.
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease that is spread by saliva droplets sprayed when someone coughs or sneezes. Those infected develop a dry, violent cough that mimics a "whoop" sound during deep breaths in.
Between 10,000 and 40,000 cases of the disease are reported in the U.S. each year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Between late June and mid-July, about 14 cases were reported in Wood County, with the outbreak originating in Pittsville and spreading to Wisconsin Rapids and Arpin, according to the Wood County Health Department. As of July 22, that number had risen to 24, with no additional reports since that time, said Alecia Pluess, public health nurse with the county health department.
In Wisconsin, about 120 cases of whooping cough have been reported since January, though no outbreaks since those in Wood County, said Jennifer Miller, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health Services.
Here are three things to help protect your family from whopping cough:
1. Know the cold-like symptoms.
Early symptoms include a runny nose, low fever and minor cough, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Symptoms begin to worsen within a week, with coughing fits that can last more than a minute, according to the department. The fits make it difficult to breathe and may cause vomiting.
An infected person can be contagious up to three weeks after coughing begins if antibiotics are not administered.
2. Pay special attention to babies.
If you have a baby at home, he or she has a high risk of catching whooping cough because their immune systems are still developing. Up to 20 babies die from the disease each year in the nation, with most deaths occurring in children 3 months old or younger, according to the CDC.
The CDC says it is important to know that most babies who are infected don't even cough and instead stop breathing and turn blue from lack of oxygen.
Health professionals say the best way to protect your baby from whooping cough is to have him or her vaccinated. The diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine (DTaP) is administered in five doses. Children receive a dose at 2, 4, 6 and 15 months old. The final dose is a booster shot administered between the ages of 4 and 6 years old.
The health department also recommends expectant mothers receive a reduced dose of the vaccine (Tdap) between weeks 27 and 36 of each pregnancy, regardless of prior vaccinations.
3. Get everyone vaccinated, again if necessary.
Though not 100 percent effective, vaccination is the No. 1 way to avoid contracting whooping cough, Miller said.
A report published by the CDC in April said the effectiveness of the vaccine wears off with time. The vaccine has an overall effectiveness rate of nearly 89 percent if all five doses have been administered. Within the first year of the fifth dose, the effectiveness rate is 98 percent. By five years post-vaccination, the effectiveness rate sinks to about 71 percent.
Miller said adolescents and adults who were immunized as babies should receive one reduced dose of the vaccine to boost their immunity. The CDC recommends that people who have routine contact with young children, such as parents, siblings and other caregivers, stay up-to-date on their vaccinations to avoid spreading it.
However, practicing common-sense hygiene every day is always recommended. Miller said people should wash their hands with soap and water for a least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based disinfectant. Also, people should make sure to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing. If a tissue isn't immediately available, cover your face with a sleeve or with your hands, she said.