This news item expired on Saturday, September 30, 2006 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
Pertussis, also called “Whooping cough,” is on the rise in North Carolina. An estimated 15% of children in our state are at risk because they have not received all the recommended doses of DTaP, the vaccine that protects against the illness. Without proper immunization, infants and children are more likely to suffer severe illness and serious complications.
Pertussis is caused by bacteria that live in the nose, mouth, and throat. The bacteria are sprayed into the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks. Other people nearby can then inhale the bacteria. Touching a tissue or sharing a cup used by someone with pertussis can also spread the disease.
Often, infants who get pertussis have to be hospitalized. It causes coughing that makes it difficult for a child to eat, drink, or breathe. It can cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death.
Parents can protect their children by making sure that they have a total of five DTaP immunizations given on time at:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 15 – 18 months
- 4 – 6 years
The 4th dose, usually given between 15 and 18 months, is the one most often missed. It’s important that children receive all five doses to be fully protected from pertussis.
Parents can also help protect their very young infants by limiting close contact with persons who have cold symptoms or cough illness. Coughing people of any age, including parents, siblings and grandparents can have pertussis. When a person has cold symptoms or cough illness, they need to stay away from young infants as much as possible.
The DTaP vaccine also protects your child from diphtheria and tetanus. Diphtheria is a disease of the nose, throat, lungs and skin. It is spread by coughing and sneezing. It can cause breathing and heart problems and even death. Tetanus, or lockjaw, can occur when a tetanus germ enters a deep cut or puncture wound. It can cause muscle spasms, breathing problems and death.
If you know your child’s immunizations are not up-to-date, call your health care provider for an appointment to catch up. If you’re not sure, call your provider and ask if your baby has had all the immunizations he or she needs.
DTaP and other childhood immunizations are available at no charge at the Buncombe County Health Center. Parents may bring their children any time between 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The immunization clinic is open Tuesdays from 8:30am – 3:30pm. The Health Center is located at 35 Woodfin Street in Asheville.
For more information about pertussis and other immunizations contact the Buncombe County Health Center at 250-5096 or see www.immunizenc.com, or www.cdc.gov/nip.