| Pertussis or whooping cough is making a resurgence in Alaska. According to data released by the State Health Department there are almost 4 times as many cases this year as for the same time period last year. While this is not cause for alarm it should be seen as reason to insure your children are properly immunized. Pertussis is very dangerous to infants and very young children. If your children have not been immunized with the Diphtheria, Tetanus and acellular Pertussis (DTaP) or Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTP) vaccine they are at risk.
Although fever is a side effect of the vaccine, there is no scientific evidence that a causative link exits between Pertussis Vaccine and "febrile seizures." Additionally, with the advent of the newer DTaP acellular form of Pertussis vaccine the incidence of immunization related fevers has decreased.
What we do know for sure, from a study in 1995, 75% of all hospitalized cases of Pertussis were infants and that just under 1 out of 100 cases in these infants was fatal.
Pertussis or whooping cough is caused by the organism Bordetella Pertussis, a highly communicable infection of the upper respiratory tract. It is passed to children and infants from adults who may have a mild form of the disease. Immunity to Pertussis develops from the disease or from vaccination but only lasts from 5-10 years. This means that Pertussis remains a significant health threat. Recurrence after infection or immunization is usually mild. The primary disease is mild in older children and adults so the vaccine is not given to children over the age of seven.
Studies are underway to see if the newer vaccines are both safe and effective in adults and older children. If these studies are successful we can reduce the pool of adults with Pertussis and decrease the risk to our youngest children.
Most young adults, particularly those starting new families are susceptible to Pertussis. That really bad cold with fever and chills, maybe some vomiting that has been dragging on for most of the month could easily be whooping cough. Please don't put your children at risk. Have them properly immunized starting at birth. Don't wait until they need shots for school or day care.
If you think you may have Pertussis schedule an appointment with House Calls of Eagle River or your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment. As effective as Vaccines are they are not 100%. Untreated you could pass the disease to a young child who has not been successfully vaccinated.
Fredrick G. May
Physician Assistant, Certified
HOUSE CALLS OF EAGLE RIVER
696-5246
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