Pertussis can be a very serious disease, particularly for infants less than one year of age. The illness starts with cold symptoms and a cough, which becomes worse over one to two weeks and may last for months. Symptoms usually include a long series of coughs (“coughing fits”) that may be followed by a whooping noise, vomiting, turning blue, or difficulty catching breath. Older children, adults and very young infants may not develop the whoop. There is generally only a slight fever. The cough is often worse at night and cough medicines usually do not help alleviate the cough.

     Incubation period is usually five to 10 days but may be as long as 21 days. If diagnosed with pertussis, the time period to spread the disease can be reduced with antibiotic treatment such as Zithromax for five days or Erythromycin for 14 days as well as Biaxin or Bactrim.

     The most common complication of pertussis is secondary bacterial pneumonia. Other complications include middle-ear infection, loss of appetite, dehydration, seizures, encephalopathy (disorder of the brain), and apneic episodes (brief cessation of breathing). Although deaths are rare, they do occur, especially in infants less than one year of age. Approximately 30 percent of persons with pertussis require hospitalization, and about 70 percent of these are infants under the age of 6 months.

     Making sure that children receive all their shots on time is the best way to control this disease. Children should receive four doses of DtaP vaccine by 15 months of age and an additional dose of DtaP before they start school. A new prevention vaccine, Boostrix, that includes pertussis as well as TD, is now available for individuals 11-18 years of age and it will be offered to the Gowanda students in the near future. Properly immunized children may still be at risk of getting the disease and the recommended precautions should be taken whenever possible.

     Persons who are in direct contact with someone with pertussis should receive preventive treatment, or prophylaxis, with antibiotics. These treatments may prevent them from becoming ill and if they are already sick, getting these antibiotics early can help them get well faster and lower the chances of spreading the disease to others.

     The following Cattaraugus County Department of Health recommendations should be followed:

   •  Infants under 1 year old are most likely to have severe symptoms if they develop pertussis. When possible, young infants should be kept away from people with a cough. Infants with any coughing illness should be seen promptly by their doctor.

   •  If cold symptoms appear and include a cough, talk to your doctor without delay. Tell the doctor that pertussis has been diagnosed in other people in your area.

   •  Carefully covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

   •  Individuals who may have pertussis are encouraged to stay out of school, work, and extra-curricular activities until properly treated.

   •  Hands should be frequently washed with warm soapy water or with alcohol-based hand cleaner.

     For more information about pertussis, contact your doctor or the Cattaraugus County Health Department at 716-373-8050 or 1-800-251-2584.