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Overview
Pertussis (also known as Whooping Cough) is highly communicable, vaccine-preventable disease that lasts for many weeks and is typically manifested in children with spasms of severe coughing, whooping, and associated vomiting. It is caused by Bordetella Pertussis, and is transmitted through direct contact with mucous, saliva and other discharge from the nose and mouth. Major complications are most common among infants and young children and include hypoxia, apnea, pneumonia, seizures, encephalopathy, and malnutrition. Young children can die from pertussis; five infants, all under three months of age, have died from pertussis this year in California.
Epidemic in California
Pertussis has reached an epidemic level in California. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reports that for the first six months of 2010, 1,496 cases of pertussis were reported (a five-fold increase from the same period last year when 258 cases were reported). In addition, approximately 700 possible cases of pertussis are under investigation. Risk is highest among children who are too young to be fully vaccinated and those who have not completed the primary vaccination series. Adolescents and adults become susceptible when immunity wanes, but can receive a booster shot of the new combination vaccine (called Tdap).
Vaccination
The pertussis vaccination series can begin when an infant is 6 weeks of age. Infants are not protected until the initial series of three shots is complete. Neither vaccination nor illness from pertussis provides lifetime immunity. The series of shots that most children receive wears off by the time they finish middle school. School health centers and school vaccination programs are in an ideal position to deliver DTaP or Tdap vaccine as indicated.
CDPH recommends that all patients indicated for immunization against tetanus, diphtheria or pertussis be immunized with:
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