Pertussis Update

Pertussis Information

Update December 21, 2004

The Fairfax County Health Department reminds residents that the cold weather and the holiday season may present an increased risk of pertussis transmission as people gather indoors.

Cases of pertussis (also known as whooping cough) appear to be on the rise both locally and nationally. According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), pertussis activity is higher than it was at this time last year throughout the Commonwealth, including Fairfax County.

Pertussis affects people of all ages and can be a serious disease, particularly for infants younger than one year of age. The illness is highly contagious, and can easily spread through the air from a sick person during talking, sneezing or coughing. Since infants are at particularly high risk for developing severe disease, parents are encouraged to keep them away from individuals with cough illness.

Whooping cough starts with symptoms similar to a common cold - with a runny nose, sneezing, low grade fever and cough. The cough may last one to two weeks then worsen to uncontrolled coughing spells, especially at night. In children, the cough may be accompanied by a high pitched "whoop" sound. The "whoop" is a sign that the person is struggling to breathe between coughs. Adolescents and adults tend to have less severe disease and may not develop the whoop.

Important steps people can take to prevent the spread of pertussis include:

• Check children's shot records to be sure they have received all their shots. If unsure whether a child has been completely immunized against pertussis, parents should talk to their family doctor or the health department about bringing the child's immunizations up to date as soon as possible. At least three doses of pertussis vaccine are necessary to protect a child from pertussis. Vaccine is only given to children under 7 years of age.
• Anyone with a cough lasting more than two weeks should contact their physician about whether they may have pertussis. If appropriate, antibiotics can shorten the duration of illness and lower the chances of spreading the disease to others.
• Infants with any coughing illness should be promptly evaluated by their doctor.
• Always use tissues to cover coughs and sneezes.
• Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water, frequently throughout the day.
• Avoid sharing drinks and eating utensils.

For more information, call the Health Department at 703-246-2411, TTY 703-591-6435, or see the VDH's fact sheet on pertussis (Adobe Acrobat file,Large PDF,125K) .