CA: Whooping cough

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stor...hoop-kid-in-school/?northcounty&zIndex=113667


Kindergartner diagnosed with whooping cough
UNION-TRIBUNE

3:50 p.m. June 9, 2009

ESCONDIDO ? A kindergarten student has been diagnosed with whooping cough, county health officials said Tuesday.

The child attends Pioneer Elementary School in Escondido, and the county is notifying parents of the school's 114 kindergarten students.

The highly contagious disease causes severe coughing.

?Parents of kindergarten students are encouraged to watch for cough symptoms and to contact their physician if they or their children develop a persistent cough within the next two weeks,? Dr. Wilma Wooten, county public health officer, said in a written statement.

The student who became ill had been vaccinated. Wooten said that no vaccine provides total protection against getting the disease, but can make it less severe once contracted.

The illness usually starts with flulike symptoms, including a runny nose, sneezing, fever and a mild cough. Symptoms can last up to two weeks and may be followed by severe coughing fits and vomiting.

Wooten said it is recommended that children get five doses of vaccine, beginning at 2 months, with the last from age 4 to 6.

For more information, visit the county's Health and Human Services Immunization Branch Web site at sdiz.org or call (619) 692-8661.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.10news.com/news/19718870/detail.html

Health Dept. Reports More Whooping Cough Cases
POSTED: 5:24 pm PDT June 10, 2009

SOLANA BEACH, Calif. -- Three more area students have been diagnosed with whooping cough, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced Wednesday.

A 5-year-old at Solana Beach Presbyterian Preschool, an 11-year old at Skyline Elementary and a 14-year-old who goes to Earl Warren Junior High are being treated for the disease, according to the HHSA.

All of the schools are in Solana Beach.

On Tuesday, the HHSA announced that a 5-year-old at Pioneer Elementary School in Escondido also had whooping cough.

HHSA and school officials are working to notify the parents of students who may have been exposed.

"It is not unexpected to see whooping cough in our community," said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the county's deputy public health officer. "Parents need to make sure their children are immunized to protect against vaccine-preventable diseases."

All of the infected children had been vaccinated.

There were 51 cases of whooping cough reported in the county last year. So far this year, there have been 30 cases.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local...as-Whooping-Cough/8jpzC_3IQUC613TloYOIVQ.cspx


Tierrasanta Student has Whooping Cough
Last Update: 5:31 pm


SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A 10-year-old student at a Tierrasanta elementary school has been diagnosed with whooping cough, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced Wednesday.

The child attends Kumeyaay Elementary School and was involved in a Christian Youth Theater Group production in May, according to the HHSA.

"Whooping cough is very active this season and is highly contagious," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.

"If children are having severe coughing spells, especially after having flu-like symptoms, parents should ask their primary care physician to test their children for whooping cough," she said.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts with flu-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, fever and mild cough. The symptoms may be mild and brief, or last up to two weeks, but are often followed by severe coughing fits that may be associated with vomiting.

There were 51 cases of whopping cough reported in the county last year. So far this year, there have been 42 cases.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jun/29/whooping-cough-reported-in-ventura-santa-barbara/

Whooping cough reported in Ventura, Santa Barbara counties

By Kim Lamb Gregory (Contact)
Monday, June 29, 2009

Ventura County Health Department officials are investigating whether the four recent confirmed cases of whooping cough in the county are linked to 11 reported cases in Santa Barbara County.

The Santa Barbara County Health Department added three more cases Monday morning to the eight it had reported last week. The cases in Santa Barbara County were reported this month and the patients? ages ranged from 1 to 49.

?Most individuals are adolescents between the ages of 11 and 12,? said Santa Barbara County public health nurse Paige Batson, manager of the disease control and prevention program. ?Some were vaccinated and were due for a booster soon.?

The first of Ventura County?s four cases occurred in mid-May, said county public health nurse and communicable disease office manager Kim Kandarian. The age range is from infant to preteen.

?It is possible a case in Santa Barbara would have relatives in Ventura County they may have lived with,? Kandarian said. Or it could have just spread from person to person.

The primary symptom of pertussis ? or whooping cough ? is violent coughing that may include vomiting. In some cases, coughing from the bacterial infection may be so violent there could be neurological damage from lack of oxygen to the brain, Batson said. Another danger is pneumonia.

Even if there is no lasting damage, the cough can last for months, she said.

Neither Kandarian nor Batson knew why their counties have cases of the preventable disease.

Whooping cough has always been on the county health radar, but Kandarian said the agency began noticing a change in the past two or three years.

?We see pertussis year-round now,? she said, ?rather than seasonally.?

Before a vaccination for the disease was developed in the 1940s, there were as many as 250,000 cases with 9,000 deaths in the 1920s and ?30s, according to the Centers for Disease Control. By 1974, the number of cases had dropped to about 1,000.

But the number of reports of pertussis spiked to 25,000 in 2004, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In 2007, there were 10,454 cases reported nationwide, including 10 children who died.

Some parents fears of health threats from vaccines has led increasing numbers of people to avoid getting their children vaccinated. But studies have shown those who don?t get vaccinated, have a greater chance of getting the disease.

A study of 751 children enrolled in a Kaiser Permanente of Colorado health plan from 1996 to 2007 showed that among the 156 who got whooping cough, 18, or 12 percent, had parents who refused the vaccine, versus less than 1 percent of children in a comparison group who didn?t get sick and included kids who had at least some of the shots. Nine children, or 6 percent, had to be hospitalized, but none died.

Authorities recommend a series of five shots, including three by age 6 months, to prevent pertussis. A booster shot is recommended for older children and teens. Adults should also check with their doctors to see if they?re due for a booster shot.

?Pertussis is one of those cases where people assume that once you get immunized, you won?t get the disease,? Kandarian said. ?The vaccine wanes.?

?The Associated Press contributed to this story.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local...rning-in-Lakeside/zgQ5sxMD9UKUL4SDdYb4NQ.cspx


Whooping Cough Warning in Lakeside

Last Update: 6/30 12:53 pm

SAN DIEGO - A 10-year-old student at a Lakeside elementary school has been diagnosed with whooping cough, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced Tuesday.

The child, who had been vaccinated but was due for a booster, attends Lemon Crest Elementary School, according to the HHSA.

"Whooping cough is becoming more active in our community," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.

"Parents should be aware of the symptoms ,and if their child is having severe coughing spells, they should consult their primary care physician about testing for whooping cough," she said. "This disease is highly contagious."

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts with flu-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, fever and mild cough. The symptoms may be mild and brief, or last up to two weeks, but are often followed by severe coughing fits that may be associated with vomiting.

There were 51 cases of whopping cough reported in the county last year. So far this year, there have been 44 cases.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.thedailysound.com/070209pertussisoutbreak

New cases of whooping cough confirmed

By ERIC LINDBERG ? July 2, 2009

With the number of confirmed whooping cough cases in Santa Barbara County jumping to 14 this year ? including 11 in the month of June ? health officials reiterated their call for local residents to be vaccinated for the highly contagious respiratory infection.

?There is still the potential for death if it?s not treated; pertussis can be very serious,? said Paige Batson, the county?s manager of disease control and prevention, referring to the illness by its medical term.

All 11 cases are located in the southern portion of the county, she said, and involve victims from 1 month to 49 years old. The bacterial illness is particularly serious for infants and children.

Commonly spread by coughing and sneezing, pertussis typically begins with cold-like symptoms but progresses after several weeks to an increasingly severe cough.

?That?s where it becomes serious, especially for the young, non-immunized children,? Batson said.

Repeated bouts of severe coughing result in a lack of oxygen reaching the brain, she said, leading to complications such as apnea or encephalopathy.

Complications for adults are much less common, although coughing typically lasts for weeks or even months, health officials said, and can result in rib fractures.

Most children are immunized for whooping cough, although some don?t receive the vaccine due to illness or by choice.

?Over time, the vaccine wears down so people need boosters,? said Susan Klein-Rothschild, a spokeswoman for the county?s public health department. ?This is a good example of why it?s so important to keep up on vaccinations. This is totally preventable.?

Vaccinations are recommended at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 15 months, along with booster shots at 5 and 12 years. Adults who did not receive a booster as a teen should also talk to their medical provider about receiving the vaccine.

?For the most part, getting vaccinated is No. 1,? Batson said. ?If somebody is exposed to pertussis, they should see their physician and get what we call prophylaxis and treatment.?

In other words, anyone who has come in contact with someone who has a confirmed case of whooping cough should be treated with antibiotics to help prevent the spread of the illness.

While health officials have yet to determine if the recent string of cases are all connected, Batson said there are definitely links between several victims.

?Of the 11, there are about four different groups,? she said.

Pertussis, which received its common moniker of whooping cough from the loud ?whoop? sound caused when children inhale after repeatedly coughing all the air from their lungs, affected more than 25,000 people in the United States in 2005, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Most of those victims recovered, although the infection is responsible for roughly 10 to 20 deaths annually.

In Santa Barbara County, the most recent outbreak of the illness occurred in 2005, when a total of 34 cases were confirmed. Since then, figures have dropped off until recently ? with eight cases in 2007 and only three in 2008.

Health officials said they are monitoring the situation and continuing to urge residents to receive the vaccine if appropriate. As far as the 11 recent cases, Batson said only one required a three-day hospital stay.

?They are all recovery well,? she said. ?It looks like it?s been fairly mild.?

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.corning-observer.com/news/cough-5487-county-whooping.html

Case of whooping cough diagnosed in county
Friday, Jul 3 2009, 6:40 pm
Staff report

A Tehama County resident has been diagnosed with pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

?Anyone who has an unexplained illness with cough or who has had contact with a person with pertussis is encouraged to contact his or her health care provider,? said Sydnei Wilby, Tehama County Public Health director.

The disease was diagnosed in a woman who lives in northern Tehama County, according to Wilby. Early diagnosis and treatment has reduced the severity of her symptoms and shortened the contagious period, she said.

?We acted quickly and systematically in contacting people who may have come in contact with the patient,? Wilby said. ?I believe this contributed to there being only one case diagnosed at this point.? Some of those contacted were given vaccinations, and those deemed to be at high risk of contracting the disease were given antibiotics.

Pertussis is a bacterial disease that is easily transmitted from person to person through the air during talking, sneezing, or coughing, and sharing or handling of items such as cups or tissues that have been used by someone with pertussis, according to the health department.

The disease can be very serious, especially for young infants, as it can cause breathing problems, pneumonia and swelling of the brain, according to public health.

?Parents are encouraged to check their children?s immunization records for DTP or DTaP to ensure that they are completely vaccinated against pertussis,? Wilby said in a press release. ?Parents who are unsure about their child?s vaccination status should contact their health care provider.?

Pertussis can be hard to diagnose because symptoms often appear similar to a cold with a nagging cough.


Symptoms and

treatment

n During the first one to two weeks of infection, persons with pertussis may experience only a runny nose and non-productive cough, similar to a cold.

n As the illness progresses, young children may have more serious coughing fits, often followed by a whooping sound as they try to catch their breath.

n After coughing, a person may have difficulty catching his breath, vomit or become blue in the face from lack of air.

n Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics and plenty of rest and fluids. Patients with severe cases may need special treatments.

n Pertussis can be prevented by a series of childhood immunizations.

n For more information, contact the nurse on call from 3 to 5 p.m. weekdays at 527-6824 or 800....

Source: Tehama County Public Health

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.10news.com/news/19932825/detail.html

2 Local Children Diagnosed With Whooping Cough
Cases From Imperial Beach, La Mesa

POSTED: 4:03 pm PDT July 2, 2009
UPDATED: 4:04 pm PDT July 2, 2009

SAN DIEGO -- A 9-year-old student in Imperial Beach and a 10-year-old in La Mesa have been diagnosed with whooping cough, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced Thursday.

The infected children attend Oneonta Elementary and Murray Manor Elementary, according to the HHSA.

County health officials said letters have been sent to parents whose children may have come into contact with the ill student.


"We are seeing whooping cough cases across the county," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer. "This is a highly contagious disease and parents should consult their primary care physician about testing for whooping cough if they notice symptoms such as severe coughing spells."

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts with flu-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, fever and mild cough. The symptoms may be mild and brief, or last up to two weeks, but are often followed by severe coughing fits that may be associated with vomiting.

There were 51 cases of whopping cough reported in the county last year. So far this year, there have been 50 cases.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local...th-Whooping-Cough/8jpzC_3IQUC613TloYOIVQ.cspx


7-year-old Comes Down with Whooping Cough

Last Update: 7/10 6:40 pm

SAN DIEGO - A 7-year-old who attended an extended day program in the Cajon Valley School District has been diagnosed with whooping cough, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced Friday.

County health officials are working with the school district to notify the parents of children who may have come into contact with the sick child.

It is the 59th case of whooping cough reported in San Diego County this year, according to the HHSA. In 2008, there were 51 cases.

"Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease and we want parents and physicians to be aware that it is very active in our community this year," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.

"It's important for people 11 years of age and older to get their Tdap booster shot to help decrease the spread of the disease," she said.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts with flu-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, fever and mild cough. The symptoms may be mild and brief, or last up to two weeks, but are often followed by severe coughing fits that may be associated with vomiting.

 

[Zac]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

I had pertussis (whooping cough) a couple years ago and this is how it went.
(I was 36 at the time) Note that there is a combination vaccine DTaP that works for dipheria, tetanus, and pertussis available. I added the comments in [ ] while the rest was written when I was sick.

5/1/07 spent a couple hours in evening with friend who had cold like symptoms (lethargy/malaise, congestion, headache) [It turns out he's been sick and coughing like crazy the last 3 weeks prior to 5/1 and a number of his coworkers had been down with severe cough too over the past month.]

5/5/07 moderate sore throat with small amount of white foul
smelling exudate on tonsils, no fever, started Augmentin 875/125
twice a day on suspicion of bacterial tonsillitis which has occurred
occasionally in past years (but usually accompanied by fever unlike this time)

5/7/07 feel very lethargic/malaise and sometimes have
headache, spend part of day sleeping, no fever, occasional cough,
take naproxen as needed for headache, no more exudate visible

5/8/07 switched to Ceftin 500mg twice a day as Augmentin was
making me nauseous, [Azithromycin or a macrolide antibiotic would have been a better choice for pertussis, but I didn't have that available at the time.] no fever, no more exudate visible, mild cough
developing, started taking Histinex HC [a hydrocodone cough syrup] as needed to suppress mostly unproductive cough

5/18/07 completed 10 days of Ceftin 500mg twice daily, no
fever, cough is much worse with some severe episodes which almost
result in vomiting (or at least gagging), severe cough also causes
muscle pain in various places and feeling faint immediately after
coughing episodes, cough occasionally produces either clear or
green/yellow viscous mucus, sore throat has improved so that it only
feels mildly irritated when swallowing with no more exudate visible,
no significant malaise other than the coughing and mild throat irritation

5/21/07 coughing continues with similar severity, but is now
mostly concentrated when sleeping or lying down. Sleep is very
disturbed with me getting only a few hours a night. Cough is greatly
reduced when standing/sitting, no fever

5/26/07 coughing continues without significant change,
continues to be most severe at night and when lying down, several
time per day check with ear thermometer finds very slight fever (98.9-99.2 degrees)

5/27/07 coughing continues with most severe episodes at night, no fever

[Coughing continued for nearly a month longer before going away. I was told later that the antibiotics I took probably prevented me from transmitting the disease to the people I came in contact with as no one I had contact with got sick.]

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.redwoodtimes.com/health/ci_12938038

Pertussis outbreak near Petrolia prompts Public Health response
Redwood Times
Posted: 07/29/2009 11:23:51 AM PDT

Twenty people of all ages were recently vaccinated in the Mattole Valley after infants were diagnosed with pertussis, also known as ?whooping cough.?

Dr. Richard Sheinman diagnosed the first Mattole case in April. As more cases were reported, Southern Humboldt?s Senior Public Health Nurse Shirley Hillman began working with the community to stop the spread of the disease. Since April, 14 cases of pertussis have been reported to Public Health.

Mattole Valley School Principal Glenda Short invited the Humboldt County Public Health Branch to meet with families and provide information about the illness and how it can be prevented. Three public heath nurses were able to put on a presentation for about 30 residents. Twenty residents ranging in age from two to 65 were immunized.

?Parents want the best for their children. They need their questions answered. This gathering was a fantastic opportunity to address their concerns,? said Hillman.

Pertussis begins like a mild cold, with runny nose, sneezing, and mild cough. After a week or two, the nagging cough worsens and may occur in explosive bursts that sometimes end with gagging and a high-pitched whoop as the cougher gasps for air. Infants are particularly at risk for the complications of pertussis. Adolescents and adults may not become as ill as babies, but they often are the carriers of the illness that infects babies.

?Cases of whooping cough appear each year in Humboldt County, but every three or four years there is an increase in the number of cases,? according to Mary McKenzie, one of the public health nurses who attended the Mattole clinic.

?Four years ago a similar outbreak of whooping cough started in Eastern Humboldt and spread to other parts of the county. In that year?s outbreak, 66 cases were diagnosed and seven infants were hospitalized with complications of pertussis,? McKenzie said.

Pertussis is easily preventable. Infants, who are at the greatest risk of death from pertussis, should begin receiving the vaccine series at two months of age. The next four doses come at four, six, 15-18 months, and one sometime around four to six years.

There is also a pertussis booster now available for teens and adults.

?We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Dr. Scheinman and Principal Short who worked tirelessly to support their community?s health and to facilitate this unique and successful event,? Hillman said.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.10news.com/news/20243085/detail.html

Child, 11, Diagnosed With Whooping Cough
Child Attended Summer Program In San Marcos

POSTED: 4:08 pm PDT July 31, 2009
UPDATED: 4:09 pm PDT July 31, 2009

SAN DIEGO -- An 11-year-old child who attended a summer program at North County High Tech Middle School in San Marcos has been diagnosed with whooping cough, county health officials said Friday.

The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is working with school officials to notify the parents of all children who may have come in contact with the sick child, who attended the summer program July 6-17.

So far this year, there have been 75 cases of whooping cough reported in San Diego County, according to the HHSA. In 2008, there were 51 cases.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts with flu-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, fever and mild cough. The symptoms may be mild and brief, or last up to two weeks, but are often followed by severe coughing fits and vomiting.

The disease is treated with antibiotics.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_whoop16.421820e.html

Whooping cough increases in San Diego

10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, August 15, 2009

By MICHELLE L. KLAMPE
The Press-Enterprise

Knowing the symptom of Whooping cough is likely the reason for a dramatic spike in the number of reported cases in San Diego County, officials there say.

With more public awareness of what makes a cough more than just that, officials reported 82 cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough just eight months into 2009. Karen Waters-Montijo, chief of the county health department's immunization branch, said the county recorded 51 cases in 2008.

Just to the north, in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, things are much different.

Health officials there have not seen similar increases. San Bernardino County averages about 6 to 8 cases per year, said Lea Morgan, disease controller for the Department of Public Health.

In 2005, Riverside County had 64 cases, but in 2008, preliminary data indicated the county had just six cases, Barbara Cole the county's director of disease control for Public Health Department, said .

Cases numbers for 2009 aren't available yet, but Cole said she was unaware of any major shift in numbers.

"I'm not aware of any clusters (of cases) so far this year," she said.

Inland health officials monitor neighboring counties and send out advisories when they are warranted to educate physicians, schools and others about potential disease threats, Cole said.

San Diego's cases have come from all parts of the county, Waters-Montijo said. The county's bigger numbers this year may stem from residents' increased awareness of whooping cough, she said. The department has been vigilant about notifying people who may have been in contact with an infected person a case of whooping cough is discovered.

"Parents are recognizing the symptoms," Waters-Montijo said.

Up-to-date Tdap vaccinations, which cover tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, are required for entry into elementary school under state law, though exemptions are available under certain conditions

Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease best identified by the "whooping" sound made when people with pertussis cough. It has been on the rise in the U.S. since the 1980s, particularly among teenagers and babies less than five months old, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In 2007, there were more than 10,000 cases in the U.S.

Waters-Montijo said 40 percent of San Diego's cases have occurred in infants under age 1. Another large chunk of the cases were found in children ages 9 to 11, a time when their original vaccinations' effectiveness may be waning, she said.

Health officials say the best protection against whooping cough is vaccination. Federal health guidelines call for a series of five shots for children between two months of age and when they start school, between age four and six.

Reach Michelle L. Klampe at 951-37... or mklampe@PE.com

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.10news.com/news/20435775/detail.html

Chula Vista Kid Diagnosed With Whooping Cough
Health Officials Working With School To Notify Parents

POSTED: 3:01 pm PDT August 17, 2009

SAN DIEGO -- A 7-year-old Chula Vista elementary school student has been diagnosed with whooping cough, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced Monday.

County health officials are working with the district to notify the parents of children at Discovery Charter Elementary School who may have come into contact with the sick child.

So far this year, there have been 83 cases of whooping cough in San Diego County, compared to 51 cases last year.



"We continue to see an increased amount of whopping cough cases this year," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.

"It's extremely important for parents to ensure that they and their children are protected against vaccine preventable diseases including whooping cough," Wooten said. "No vaccine provides 100 percent protection against infections, but being immunized often makes the symptoms less severe if a person does become ill."

According to the HHSA, the infected student was up-to-date with vaccinations.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts with flu-like symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, fever and a mild cough. The symptoms may be mild and brief, or last up to two weeks, but are often followed by severe coughing fits that may be associated with vomiting. It is treated using antibiotics.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.10news.com/news/20711488/detail.html

Student, 10, Diagnosed With Whooping Cough
Child Attends Chula Vista Elementary School

POSTED: 2:03 pm PDT September 3, 2009
UPDATED: 2:04 pm PDT September 3, 2009

SAN DIEGO -- A 10-year-old student at Chula Vista Elementary School was diagnosed with whooping cough, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced Thursday.

County health officials were working with the district to notify the parents of children at the school who may have come into contact with the sick child, officials with the HHSA reported.

The infected student was up-to-date on their vaccinations, according to the HHSA.

"No vaccine provides 100 percent protection, but having your child immunized often makes the symptoms less severe if they do become ill," Sidelinger said.

So far this year, there have been 88 cases of whooping cough in San Diego County, compared to 51 cases last year.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts with flu-like symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, fever and a mild cough.

The symptoms may be mild and brief, and last up to two weeks, but are often followed by severe coughing fits that may be associated with vomiting. Whooping cough is treated with antibiotics.

"Whooping cough is still active in our community," said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the county's deputy public health officer.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_13297184

Whooping cough found in Willits
By TIFFANY REVELLE The Daily Journal
Updated: 09/09/2009 12:00:15 AM PDT

Swine flu isn't the only culprit for people who find themselves sick during the off-season for the regular flu. One laboratory-confirmed case and several clinically diagnosed cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, were reported in Willits, the Mendocino County Community Health Services Branch announced Tuesday.

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the respiratory tract. Named for the sound babies made while in the throes of a coughing fit, the disease causes severe coughing spasms and can last for several weeks, or even months.

"It's a spasmodic kind of cough. You get into a fit, and sometimes it's so severe that people have cracked a rib," Public Health Nurse Jennifer Dutton said.

It starts with cold-like symptoms, including runny nose or congestion, sneezing, mild cough and fever, and it quickly progresses to severe coughing. The disease is most contagious during the cold-like stage, and passes from person to person.

Pertussis usually begins to strike in April and continues throughout the summer, according to Dutton. She said a person may not know they have the disease until the severe cough sets in, which is when a person is no longer considered contagious.

"The best thing is, if you know you have been exposed to someone who was diagnosed with it, check in with a doctor, because that may lessen the severity of the symptoms or stop it," Dutton said.

Officials recommend covering coughs and sneezes and consulting with a
doctor to find out if vaccination is needed.

Pertussis is one of the most commonly-occurring diseases that is preventable by vaccine, according to a CHS press release. Children can get the vaccine DTaP when they are 2 months old, and are given four doses by the time they are 15 months old. A Tdap vaccine booster is recommended for people between the ages of 11 and 65 years.

Adolescents and adults should be vaccinated every seven to 10 years, as the vaccine's ability to protect a person from the disease fades over time.

People who do not have a health care provider can call the Mendocino County Immunization Clinic at 472-2600 to schedule an appointment for a vaccination.

Tiffany Revelle can be reached at udjtr@pacific.net, or at 468-3523.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/oc...007419c66.html

OCEANSIDE: Infant diagnosed with whooping cough
North County Times wire services | Posted: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 8:50 pm |

OCEANSIDE ---- A 2-month-old child who attends day-care in Oceanside has been diagnosed with whooping cough, health officials said Thursday.

Authorities are working to notify other parents with children at the Ocean Shores High School day care, part of the Oceanside School District, they said.

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that usually starts with mild cold and flu-like symptoms. Those symptoms can last up to two weeks and may be followed by severe coughing fits and vomiting. Infants and young children are at highest risk of life-threatening complications.

They did not say whether the 2-month-old in Oceanside had been vaccinated against the illness.

Health officials stressed that the vaccination doesn't always prevent infection. It does, however, usually lead to more mild symptoms and reduced risk of complications.

Health officials recommend that children get five doses of the vaccine that prevents whooping cough, on a schedule that runs from 2 months old to 6 years old.

For people between the ages of 11 and 64, officials recommend a booster shot because the initial childhood vaccinations may wear off.

For more information, call the Health and Human Services Immunization Branch at 619... or see www.sdiz.org.
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[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local...-San-Diego-County/OwvKl_j5oki7FErKZtql1A.cspx


Ramona Student Has Whooping Cough

Last Update: 9/18 3:03 pm

SAN DIEGO - A 10-year-old elementary school student in Ramona was diagnosed with whooping cough, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced Friday.

County health officials were working with the staff at Ramona Elementary School to notify the parents of children who may have come into contact with the sick child, HHSA officials said.

So far this year, there have been 97 cases of whooping cough in San Diego County, compared to 51 cases last year.

Whooping cough can occur at any age, but infants and young children have the highest risk of developing life-threatening complications, the most common of which is pneumonia.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts with flu-like symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, fever and a mild cough.

The symptoms may be mild and brief, and last up to two weeks, but are often followed by severe coughing fits that may be associated with vomiting. Whooping cough is treated with antibiotics.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.10news.com/news/21163987/detail.html

Del Mar Student Diagnosed With Whooping Cough
Health Officials, School Inform Parents Of Case

POSTED: 2:37 pm PDT September 30, 2009
UPDATED: 3:07 pm PDT September 30, 2009

SAN DIEGO -- An 11-year-old elementary school student at Torrey Hills School in Del Mar was diagnosed with whooping cough, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced Wednesday.

County health officials were working with the staff at the school to notify the parents of children who may have come into contact with the sick child, HHSA officials said.

So far this year, there have been 103 cases of whooping cough in San Diego County, compared to 51 cases last year.

Whooping cough can occur at any age, but infants and young children have the highest risk of developing life-threatening complications, the most common of which is pneumonia.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts with flu-like symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, fever and a mild cough.

The symptoms may be mild and brief, and last up to two weeks, but are often followed by severe coughing fits that may be associated with vomiting. Whooping cough is treated with antibiotics.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CA: Whooping cough

Source: http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/63636952.html

Whooping cough outbreak in Kings County
By KSEE News

Story Published: Oct 6, 2009 at 6:59 PM EDT
Story Updated: Oct 6, 2009 at 7:09 PM EDT

Kings County health officials announced today an outbreak of whooping cough has put six children in the hospital in the past six months.
Most of the victims are infants under six months, but one patient was 2 years old.
It can be uncomfortable for adolescents and adults, but deadly for very young children.
Whooping cough is characterized by clusters of coughs lasting several minutes after a week of cold-like symptoms.
Other severe symptoms include vomiting, loss of bladder control and rib fractures.
It can last up to six weeks.
This illness is very contagious and is typically passed from adults to children.
Infants are urged to be vaccinated for the disease.