“It’s important to surround infants with a protective “cocoon‟ of immunity because a newborn is too young to be vaccinated,” said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, Health Officer and Director of Snohomish Health District. “”If you or your children have been coughing for more than two weeks please call your health care provider and discuss whether you and your family should be seen and tested for whooping-cough.”
Small children and infants are especially at risk of illness. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (ACIP/CDC) recently recommended fully immunizing women against pertussis during their pregnancies in lieu of waiting to vaccinate post partum.
The initial symptoms of pertussis appear as an ordinary cold, with runny nose, sneezing, and a mild cough. It progresses within two weeks and can persist for months to include severe coughing in fits or spasms followed by a whooping sound, and vomiting.
Pate says whooping-cough is out in the community and so are the vaccines. She says the best way to prevent whooping-cough is to get vaccinated. Here’s a link to the whooping-cough information on the Snohomish Health District’s website.
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August 18, 2011
Everett