The Flathead City-County Health Department has confirmed four cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, in the county and authorities are concerned about the possibility of an outbreak.
Pertussis is an upper respiratory bacterial infection that begins with symptoms similar to a common cold, but the coughing can worsen so severely after 10 to 14 days that vomiting or loss of consciousness may occur. The “whoop” derives from the sound people may make as they cough while trying to take a breath.
While four confirmed pertussis cases isn’t necessarily a high number, considering there were six confirmed cases between Oct. 2009 and Oct. 2010 in Flathead County, Community Health Director Jody White and other officials are concerned that three of the four cases that have been confirmed currently are not people who came in contact with one another.
“We have three completely unrelated (cases) over the period of month,” White said. “That indicates that it’s in the community and there is the potential for an outbreak.”
As of Oct. 23, there were 67 confirmed whooping cough cases in Montana, with health officials noticing an “unusual increase” along the U.S. Highway 93 corridor, particularly in Lincoln and Flathead County, she added.
Symptoms of pertussis may not be as severe in adults and older children, resulting in a nagging cough that can last six weeks or longer – which is why the infection is also referred to as the “100 day cough.” White said pertussis is also commonly misdiagnosed as bronchitis. But in babies 18 months old or younger, who are too young to be fully immunized, pertussis can lead to hospitalization. Anyone with upper respiratory conditions, or whose immune system is compromised, is also at higher risk for complications from pertussis.
California is seeing a large whooping cough outbreak, she added, that has led to 10 infant deaths since the spring.
The disease can be treated with a three-week cycle of antibiotics if it is identified early, but the antibiotics do not alleviate symptoms.
The most effective means of avoiding whooping cough is through prevention. The pertussis vaccine is now administered through the routine cycle of immunizations for kids and adults, along with tetanus and diptheria. It is about 85 percent effective.
“If you haven’t had a tetanus booster in the last four years, you probably did not receive the pertussis vaccine,” White said, adding that pregnant women should also get vaccinated right after they give birth. In the family that has two of the confirmed cases, a toddler and adult who were exposed to the disease but have been vaccinated did not get it.
Because it is contagious, catching pertussis can also be disruptive to one’s work. According to White, one of the adults in that same family that contracted pertussis was affiliated with a school, and had to miss work until they had completed a five-day course of immunization. She also noted that if an outbreak occurs at a school, children who have not been vaccinated won’t be allowed to attend class.
“If there is a case in a school or classroom, children who aren’t immunized will be excluded from school until they complete preventative antibiotics, or 21 days,” White said. “We actually have that occurring in one school right now.”
Pertussis is spread mainly through the cough of the person infected.
“If you’re at arm’s length from someone who is persistently coughing, that puts you at risk,” White said.
She urges those with questions about pertussis or vaccinations to call the Health Department at 751-8110, or contact their health provider.