Many people may think of whooping cough as a disease of the past -- something eradicated generations ago. However, the number of cases reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that whooping cough (pertussis) is still very much a public health concern; health experts estimate that up to 600,000 cases occur each year in adults alone. In fact, whooping cough cases are on the rise in San Diego.
According to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, the number of whooping cough cases in San Diego County from January 2009 through November 2009 is more than double the total cases reported in 2008.
To help protect against whooping cough, the CDC and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommend that most adolescents and adults get a single dose of the whooping cough vaccine, also called "Tdap" vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis). Tdap is a one-time booster shot that is recommended for most adolescents and adults, if they have not been previously vaccinated with Tdap.
Adolescents aged 11 to 18 years should receive a single dose of Tdap instead of Td if they have completed the recommended childhood DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis) or DTP (diphtheria, tetanus toxoids and whole-cell pertussis) vaccination series and have not received Td or Tdap. For adults, a single shot of Tdap is recommended to replace a single dose of Td vaccine (tetanus and diphtheria toxoids) if they received their last dose of Td 10 or more years earlier and they have not previously received Tdap.
"People may not realize that whooping cough vaccination wears off over the years, leaving many susceptible to contracting this contagious disease," said Martin C. Schulman, MD, Encinitas Personal Healthcare, Inc., and member of the Board of Governors of the San Diego Academy of Family Physicians. "I talk to my adolescent and adult patients about the potential impact of whooping cough, and make sure they are up-to-date with the recommended vaccinations, including Tdap. Travel medicine visits also provide a great opportunity for catching up on overdue vaccinations."
The AAFP, with help from the San Diego chapter, has launched "Vaccination Matters: Help Protect Families from Whooping Cough," a public health initiative designed to help people understand the importance of whooping cough vaccination for adolescents and adults.
A recent national survey revealed that more than three-quarters of adults (76 percent) didn't know or didn't think that whooping cough remains widespread in the United States. Many adults (61 percent) are not even aware that there is a vaccine for whooping cough.
Whooping Cough Can Be Serious
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, can have a significant impact on a person's health if contracted. A highly contagious respiratory disease, whooping cough can cause a persistent cough severe enough to cause vomiting and even break ribs. The illness may last for up to three months or more, and may lead to pneumonia, hospitalization and missed work or school days.
People with whooping cough may not be aware they have it and can spread it to others, including infants and children. Babies who have not received all of their shots for whooping cough are especially vulnerable to infection and complications.
Vaccines Are Not Just For Babies and New Parents
Protection against whooping cough wears off approximately five to 10 years after completion of childhood vaccination, leaving adolescents and adults susceptible to whooping cough. In the survey, 72 percent of adults were unsure or didn't know this was possible.
The survey found that most adults (73 percent) believed they were up-to-date on their vaccinations. The CDC estimates that only 2.1 percent of adults received a Tdap vaccine between 2005 and 2007. For adults, the Tdap vaccine is recommended to replace a single dose of Td vaccine (tetanus and diphtheria toxoids) if they received their last dose of Td 10 or more years earlier and they have not previously received Tdap.
Family physicians can offer expert information on whooping cough vaccination for adolescents and adults. The San Diego Academy of Family Physicians encourages adults to talk to their physician about whooping cough and the Tdap vaccine.
The "Vaccination Matters: Help Protect Families from Whooping Cough" program is made possible through funding and support from GlaxoSmithKline.
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