Increase in whooping cough cases

THE NATIONAL Institute of Communicable Diseases has reported an increase in pertussis cases among children younger than five years of age.

Although the report only looks at data from the sentinel sites (Western Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and KwaZulu-Natal) which form part of a pneumonia surveillance programme, it states that the increase has been generalised.

“An increase, which was limited to the Western Cape sites, was observed from October 2017 to January 2018. However, the latest increase is more generalised,” the institute states.

Mediclinic Kimberley confirmed yesterday that a fourmonth-old child was admitted to the hospital last month with pertussis and was treated and discharged.

Pertussis, commonly known as “whooping cough” is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by Bordetella pertussis and is notifiable according to the Health Act. Immunity following vaccination lasts for five to six years.

Episodic increases in pertussis cases occur in vaccinated populations every three to five years. The NICD has advised clinicians to be on the alert for cases, to conduct diagnostic testing where appropriate, to notify cases and prescribe post-exposure prophylaxis to close and high-risk contacts of suspected or confirmed cases.

Of 37 pertussis cases identified between May and July 2018, 20 (54%) were aged less than three months.

Whooping cough causes long bouts of coughing and choking, making it hard to breathe. An infected child may turn blue from lack of air, or vomit after a coughing spell. Between these coughing spells a child gasps for air causing the characteristic “whoop” sound. Not all children get the “whoop”.

A child with whooping cough can have difficulty eating, drinking or even breathing. The disease can last up to three months. Whooping cough is most serious in babies under 12 months of age, often requiring admission to hospital.

It is very contagious and is easily spread from person to person. It is caused by bacteria called Bordetella pertussis that live in the mouth, nose and throat. Whooping cough is spread by personal contact, coughing and sneezing.

Infection is often transmitted to young children in the home from older siblings or adults who may be harbouring the bacteria in their nose and throat.

Whooping cough can occur at any age. Although most reported cases occur in children less than five years, cases are reported amongst adolescents and adults every year.

Many reported cases occur among infants, some of whom are too young to have received the three primary doses of vaccine necessary to provide protection.

It can be prevented by vaccination, which is given to children as part of the 6-in-1 vaccine at two, four and six months of age.

This vaccine protects against diphtheria, hepatitis B,

Hib (Haemophilus influenzae b), pertussis (whooping cough), polio and tetanus.

A booster vaccine dose is given at four to five years of age (4-in-1 vaccine) which protects against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and tetanus.