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Highlands Today

Whooping Cough Makes A Comeback

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: July 31, 2008

SEBRING - A single probable case of whooping cough was observed in Highlands County this year, while the Polk County Health Department reported a dramatic increase, with 23 confirmed cases since Jan. 1.

Last year in Polk County, seven cases were confirmed, with a related death in 2005.
Innoculations for whooping cough, also known as pertussis, are required by law for young children, but often immunizations wear off and adults are infected.

Barbara Moore, assistant nursing director and school health director with the Highlands County Health Department, said many adults believe they are covered by those early immunizations or become complacent.

Jamie DeMent, epidemiologist with the Highlands County Health Department, said on Wednesday, that whooping cough is often controlled with antibiotics, kills from 10 to 20 Americans a year and "pops up whenever vaccination rates decrease."

Symptoms associated with the bacterial infection are typically more severe with infants and young children than adults. Babies might cough so hard to blow blood vessels behind the eyes, cause brain damage or crack a rib.

Dr. Daniel Haight, associate professor with the University of South Florida Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine and director of the Polk County Health Department, said the confirmed cases are likely only half of those infected overall in the county.

"Pertussis causes severe coughing spells, making it hard for infants to eat, drink, or breathe.These spells can last for weeks," reads a July release issued by Haight."The high-pitched "whoop" for which the illness is named occurs when children try to catch their breath between coughs.

In addition to fewer adult inoculations, Haight pointed at two probable reasons for a recent increase in the number of verified cases of whooping cough: simpler testing now available for physicians and incorrect diagnosis' by physicians."

The health department director said the incidence of reported cases of whooping cough for 2008 were evenly split between adults and children.

"As we get older, our children's immunizations wear off, and we in turn catch this germ and have a mild case, but unfortunately pass it on to a newborn baby when they are too young for a vaccine," said Haight.

Jackie Stiles is the immunization supervisor for Highlands County and suggested another reason that cases of whooping cough are up: the rate of infection is higher in many other countries than the United States.

In 1990, 447 million travelers crossed international borders. In 2004, 763 million travelers crossed borders.

"We have more people coming from other countries and they can be here in hours," said Stiles.

Stiles said that a new vaccine to combat whooping cough was introduced in 2005 for those aged 11 through 64.

DTaP is a combined vaccine for diphtheria, tentanus and pertussis.

The county charges $46 for the DTaP booster shot, while the simpler vaccine for diphtheria and tentanus, but not pertussis, costs $23. Many vaccines are often paid for by health insurers, said Stiles.

Stiles described a symptom of whooping cough as a continuous cough, with someone unable to catch his or her breath.

Haight also described whooping cough.

"They cough all of the air out of their lungs and can't suck air in."

The Polk County Health Department director said there are several ways to combat whooping cough, including; better education of doctors, for the infected with a recurring cough - don't take chances when visiting newborns and adults should vaccinate with the DTaP vaccine.

FAST FACTS

Whooping Cough In Infants

Symptoms are more severe in infants and young children. Babies might cough so hard to blow blood vessels behind the eyes, cause brain damage or crack a rib.

Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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