Preventing the Spread of Whooping Cough

A whooping cough outbreak still exists in our community. As of April 21, the total number of whooping cough cases that have existed in the region since December is 186. This number is continuing to increase.

"This is a disease of the lungs and throat caused by bacteria found in the nose, mouth, and throat of an infected person," says Dr. David Assaff, district medical officer of health.

"The disease can cause severe complications especially if an individual is less than one year of age or a pregnant women in her third trimester," says Dr. Assaff.

Dr. Assaff notes whooping cough is spread by a person who has the disease through coughing or sneezing the germ into the air, where other people can breathe it in.

"Anyone at any age can get the disease, however young children who have not been immunised may become more ill than older children and adults."

Pam Goodfellow can speak to the seriousness of this illness. Her 16-day-old daughter was airlifted from Miramichi to the Dr. Everett Chambers Hospital in Fredericton as a result of whooping cough complications.

"It was a terrifying experience to see your baby so sick. She was hooked up to I.Vs and a machine that helped her breath," says Goodfellow.

She says her daughter was treated for the illness and is currently recovering.

"She is now 13 weeks old and the cough has remained. We still continue to watch her closely."

Dr. Assaff says it starts like a cold with sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and mild cough.

"Over the next week or two, the cough gets worse leading to serious coughing spells that often but not always end with a ‘whoop’. The coughing may be so bad that it makes the person gag or throw up."

He says the cough can last up to a month or two and happens more at night.

"A person is contagious when the first symptoms appear," says Assaff. "If not treated, the individual can be contagious for up to three weeks after coughing has begun."

He says treatment most often involves a regime of antibiotics and after a period of five days of appropriate treatment, the individual will no longer be contagious.

Goodfellow says parents need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of whooping cough and act accordingly. From her own personal experience, she says new parents need to be cautious about where they take their newborn infants.

"Public places such as malls and grocery stores can put your child more at risk of coming in contact with someone who may be infected."

She asks those who have the illness to adhere to Public Health’s recommendations as they could pass it on to the very young resulting in serious consequences.

As a result of the whooping cough outbreak in the community and patients admitted to hospital with the illness, the Miramichi Regional Hospital is continuing its current visitor restrictions on the obstetrics unit.

"These enhanced visitor restrictions are a precaution to protect the health and safety of the newborn population who are at a greater risk of contracting the disease and a greater risk of developing complications," says Miramichi Regional Hospital’s infection control co-ordinator Merita MacMillan.

MacMillan says the obstetrics unit is restricting visitors for newborn infants to ‘household contacts’ only.

"This means only those who live in the home of the newborn infant will be allowed to visit."

She says surgical/medical patients admitted to this unit will be restricted to visitors that are immediate family only.

"As symptoms of the whooping cough are often not distinguishable from those of a cold, visitors who have cold or flu-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, red and/or watery eyes, and/or cough will not be permitted to visit this unit."

She says the visiting restrictions will continue until Public Health has a declared an end to the whooping cough outbreak in the community.

One of the best defences against whooping cough is immunisation. Dr. Assaff says the routine immunisation schedule in New Brunswick recommends that children be immunised against whooping cough at ages two, four, six and eighteen months, and a reinforcing or "booster" dose between the ages of four and six years. This is given in combination with other vaccines.

"Parents should routinely review their child’s immunisation record and verify that it is up to date. If, for instance, a child has not received a booster dose of vaccine sometime between the ages of four and six years, this booster dose may still be given up until the child’s seventh birthday. Parents can call the Public Health Office at 778-6339 to book an appointment for immunisations."

Miramichi paediatrician Dr. Dickinson indicates there is also a vaccine available that protects teens and adults against whooping cough.

"If you think you or your child may not be protected against whooping cough, you should discuss this with your family doctor," says Dr. Dickinson.

He says this vaccine is not available through Public Health but can be obtained with a prescription from your doctor.

If your child has "whooping cough" symptoms you should:

Consult your doctor to obtain a diagnosis and if indicated, a treatment. If you or your child has been in contact with whooping cough, please bring the information sheet provided to you by Public Health.

Advise the school or day care if your child is diagnosed with Whooping Cough

Advise Public Health (778-6102) if you or your child is diagnosed by your doctor with Whooping Cough.

Verify your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date and if they are not, consult your doctor or the Public Health Office.

Keep your child home from school or day care.

For further information about the "whooping cough" or immunisations, please contact:

Your Family Doctor or the Public Health Office: 778-6102