Pertussis Update #2 ~ Wellness Tip

Marin County ranks second in the state for pertussis, or whooping cough, which has now reached epidemic proportions in California with more than 5,600 reported cases and ten deaths. In Marin, the rate is 123 cases out of 100,000 people, and even though pertussis is completely preventable by getting the Tdap vaccine, which is given to infants along with a diphtheria booster, many families in Marin choose not to have their children vaccinated.

In San Francisco, the rise in pertussis involves a language factor, with the increase in the infection increasing in the Hispanic population who do not speak English. Of the children under six months old who develop pertussis, 77 percent are Hispanic. And 74 percent of all pertussis cases requiring hospitalization involve infants under six months. In an effort to bring awareness to this epidemic, the San Francisco Health Department recently released a public service announcement in Spanish that featured the Giants’ third baseman, Pablo Sandoval. View the video on SavantMD.com

Adults are not immune to the disease, although treatment with antibiotics will usually clear the infection. Over the past five years, there has been a noticeable increase in pertussis cases in adults. That’s because the pertussis vaccine loses 15 percent of its effectiveness after the first five years, and drops even moreafter 10 years that it’s necessary to get a booster. The CDC recommends that all adults, ages 18 to 64, get the Tdap booster.
The SFDPH recommends that adults 65 years and older also receive Tdap vaccine.

So how can you tell if someone has a pertussis infection?

The infection has three stages:

1. Cold and cough symptoms that keep getting worse after two weeks when normally they would be getting better
2. The cough becomes more severe and then occurs in spasms that make a whooping sound. Infants and children may gag or gasp, and
3. The resolution of all the symptoms . Basically, you feel better with no more fever, fatigue, or cough. If you do become infected, please remember that you are still infectious until five days after starting antibiotics or for 21 days after the onset of symptoms.

The San Francisco Health Department recommends that all people
stay up-to-date with pertussis containing vaccination, especially those
with close contact to infants and pregnant women.

For your reference here are two website:
SFDPH pertussis vaccine recommendations:

CDC pertussis vaccine recommendations:

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pertussis/recs-summary.htm

Young children are vaccinated against pertussis with a vaccine called DTaP (Diptheria, T

etanus, acellular Pertussis). A booster dose is required before entering

kindergarten. Adolescents and adults also need booster doses, but with a

vaccine called Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis). A new state

law, effective in the fall of 2011, will require adolescents to receive a

Tdap vaccine before entering 7th grade. As this new law takes effect,

students in grades 8 to 12 will also need to show proof of receiving Tdap.

Adults aged 18 years and up should also receive Tdap. Tdap boosters can

replace one of the 10-year tetanus booster doses and it is not necessary to

wait the typical 10 years after the last tetanus shot.

Who should get the DTaP vaccine?

Infants and young children.

The recommended schedule includes 5 vaccine doses at ages: 2 months, 4

months, 6 months, 14-18 months and 4-6 years.

Who should get the Tdap vaccine?

All adolescents and adults.

As of fall of 2011, children in California will be required to receive Tdap

prior to entering 7th grade.

It is especially important for people with close contact to infants and

pregnant women to get Tdap.

It is also important for healthcare workers to receive Tdap vaccination.

The best place to get your vaccination is at your doctor’s

office. If you can’t get one there, then pharmacies like

CVS, Walgreens, Vons, and Ralphs, and your county

immunization clinic will be able to provide you with one.

Whooping cough is serious stuff but totally preventable if you

get vaccinated.

• About Dr. Savant

Related posts:

1. Pertussis Epidemic Update ~ Health and Wellness Tip
2. Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Epidemic Update ~ Health and Wellness Tip
3. San Francisco Immunization Coalition UPDATE October 25, 2010
4. Giants in the World Series. Pablo Sandoval ‘The Panda’ Helps Fight Pertussis
5. Pertussis Epidemic ~ Health and Wellness Tip