Health officials are reminding parents to make sure their children are vaccinated after five times the normal number of whooping cough cases were confirmed in Saskatchewan this year.
Dr. Saqib Shahab, the province’s deputy chief medical health officer, said infants must be vaccinated on time and immunization for older children must be up to date.
About 120 cases, mostly in northern and central regions and mainly in young children and teenagers, have been reported since January. He expects the bacterial infection will be seen province wide.
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He said whooping cough, or pertussis, cycles and was last seen in greater than usual numbers in 2003. However, at that time mostly adolescents were affected and the health ministry introduced a booster shot for children in Grade 8.
This time, officials are concerned because many of the cases are in infants younger than one year.
Vaccines against pertussis are given at two, four and six months of age, with a booster at 18 months, four months and 14 years.
Shahab urged new mothers to set up immunization appointments.
“Don’t wait until your child is two months before you call public health,” he said.
Children who receive pertussis vaccines on time are unlikely to get the disease.
“Once a child has received at least two of the childhood vaccines on time, pertussis is extremely rare. It’s not impossible, but it’s extremely rare.”
Shahab also said public health encourages a “cocooning” strategy to help protect children.
Parents, grandparents and caregivers of infants younger than six months are immunized to create a cocoon or barrier of immunity for the child.
“This is especially important for infants three months and under,” he said.
Saskatchewan is not alone in noting an increase. Manitoba reported 34 cases, mostly in northern communities and in First Nations populations, earlier this month.
Alberta expanded its immunization program in 2009 after an outbreak there.
Pertussis is highly contagious and spread by droplets from the nose and mouth.
It begins with a runny nose, throat irritation and cough before progressing to a dry itchy cough.
“Children cough and cough and cough so much that they can’t take their breath while they cough, so after a long bout of coughing, they take a big breath in and it sounds like a whoop,” Shahab said.
Vomiting, seizures, pneumonia, lung collapse or death can follow so early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are important.
WHOOPING COUGH FACTS
What is whooping cough?
Pertussis, also called whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and throat that produces a characteristic “whoop” at the end of a coughing spell in children under 12 months of age.
Babies are particularly susceptible to pertussis -one in 200 infants die from it each year.
Signs &symptoms
Pertussis typically begins with a runny nose and sore throat, but the main symptom is a persistent, dry, irritating cough. Coughing attacks may end with vomiting and/or shortness of breath. The cough can last six to 10 weeks.
Symptoms usually worsen at night.
Tests, treatments &prevention
Doctors test for pertussis using a special swab that reaches the back of the nasal cavity. Patients are prescribed antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection.
Early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent secondary, possibly fatal problems such as pneumonia, convulsions or brain damage.
Pertussis immunization is available for children aged 14 and younger.
Source: Saskatchewan Health | MICHELLE HOULDEN GRAPHIC
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