Health
Whooping Cough - It's Not Just For Kids!
By
Feb 4, 2009, 22:00

Nearly half of whooping cough cases occur in adults and adolescents.


(NC)-Think only kids can get whooping cough? Think again! In the past few years, the highly infectious and potentially serious disease, also known as pertussis, has made a comeback - and nearly half of all cases are occurring in adults and teens.

Although most Canadians are vaccinated against whooping cough as babies, immunity wears off in early adolescence, which has led to a resurgence of the illness in recent years. In Canada, between 10 and 20 per cent of coughs lasting seven days or more are caused by pertussis.

During the past decade, the number of reported cases of whooping cough has ranged from 2,400 to 10,000 per year. The good news is that adults can help protect themselves by getting a booster shot against whooping cough. Adacel is a vaccine that helps protect against whooping cough, as well as tetanus and diphtheria.

Toronto resident Lisa Snider learned about the resurgence of whooping cough the hard way. After she contracted the disease, she endured months of painful coughing, tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing. "Before I got it, I never thought whooping cough was something that I had to worry about," said Snider. "The pain of the cough was excruciating and unbearable. Once I recovered, my doctor gave me a whooping cough booster so that I would never have to go through that horrible experience again."

Family physician Dr. Linda Yolles says all adults should talk to their family physician about getting a booster shot to help strengthen their immunity. However, this is even more important for anyone planning a family. Newborns are not fully protected against pertussis until they are have had at least three vaccinations for pertussis, and suffer much more serious complications from the disease than older children and adults, including vomiting after a coughing spell, choking, weight loss and convulsions. One in 400 babies who get whooping cough will end up with brain damage and one in 100 will die. Dr Yolles advises anyone who is thinking of starting a family to check with their family physician to make sure they are properly immunized against whooping cough, even before they attempt to conceive - or otherwise shortly after birth - to help ensure they don't infect their newborn. This is also an important consideration for other close contacts, such as grandparents and daycare workers.

Dr. Yolles, who personally battled pertussis in the past, cautions that parents who contract whooping cough could risk up to three months of debilitating symptoms, adding unnecessary stress to daily life. "Whooping cough can be unrelenting and painful, and cause extreme fatigue. For new parents adjusting to parenthood, and moms and dads who know the demands of running a household, keeping yourself healthy is critical; and this can be as simple as asking your doctor about an Adacel booster."

Sidebar Know the warning signs of the "Whoop"

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious disease, which can have serious consequences for anyone, but especially for infants under six months of age. Sometimes called the "100 Day Cough," the symptoms of pertussis can last up to twelve weeks and can include:

. Uncontrollable and severe coughing

. Cold-like symptoms, including runny nose, sore throat and mild fever

. Choking spells

. Vomiting after a coughing spell (which can cause dehydration and weight loss in infants)

. Convulsions in infants

. "Whoop" sound after a coughing fit in infants and toddlers (older children and adults usually do not have the "whoop")

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