Whooping cough-making a comeback?February 14, 2006Whooping cough (pertussis) is most easily diagnosed in young children because they develop a characteristic cough-paroxysms of coughing followed by a long inspiration that makes a whooping sound. However, infants, immunized children, adolescents and adults do not usually exhibit whooping cough. Indeed, adolescents and adults may experience only a persistent cough. As a result, the disease is underdiagnosed, undertreated and can be spread to others. The introduction of a whole-cell vaccine in the 1940s resulted in a dramatic decrease in the incidence of pertussis. The disease, however, made a comeback in the 1990s, probably because of waning immunity, which occurs 6-12 years after the last episode of illness or booster dose. A new (less toxic) acellular vaccine introduced in the 1990s has had some effect, but again, recently, the incidence of pertussis has increased. The highest increase in rates of the disease in the 1990s was among adolescents and adults. Since 2004, authorities have recommended that adolescents receive a booster dose of pertussis vaccine. Eleni Galanis and colleagues discuss these trends and their implications for both patients and physicians. The changing epidemiology of pertussis in Canada in the 1990s has led to the emergence of new groups at higher risk of the disease: young infants, adolescents and adults. Canadian Medical Association Journal |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Whooping Cough Current Events and Whooping Cough News Articles Lessons from the vaccine-autism wars Researchers long ago rejected the theory that vaccines cause autism, yet many parents don't believe them. Can scientists bridge the gap between evidence and doubt? Refusing immunizations puts children at increased risk of pertussis infection Children of parents who refuse vaccines are 23 times more likely to get whooping cough compared to fully immunized children. Parents of internationally adopted children advised to verify children's immunization levels A study by the division of global child health at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine cautions adoptive parents not to rely solely on vaccination records when gauging their internationally adopted children's immunizations. Mayo Clinic study finds increased risk of pneumococcal disease in asthma patients Mayo Clinic research shows adults with asthma are at increased risk of serious pneumococcal disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most common bacteria causing middle ear infections and community acquired pneumonia. Parents of new babies should be considered for a whooping cough booster, say experts A booster vaccination for parents of new babies and other household members may be the most effective way of preventing the fatal form of whooping cough in young infants, say a group of paediatric intensive care doctors on bmj.com today. Minor shift in vaccine schedule has potential to reduce infant illness, death A new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Vanderbilt University suggests that protecting infants from a common, highly contagious and even deadly disease may be as easy as administering a routine vaccine two weeks earlier than it is typically given. Pertussis: Adults can fall severely ill too Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is not just a childhood disease. Hidden infections crucial to understanding, controlling disease outbreaks Scientists and news organizations typically focus on the number of dead and gravely ill during epidemics, but research at the University of Michigan suggests that less dramatic, mild infections lurking in large numbers of people are the key to understanding cycles of at least one potentially fatal infectious disease: cholera. Most vaccine-allergic children can still be safely vaccinated, Hopkins experts say With close monitoring and a few standard precautions, nearly all children with known or suspected vaccine allergies can be safely immunized, according to a team of vaccine safety experts led by the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Combination vaccines okay for infants, study shows A University of Rochester study brings relief to new parents who, while navigating a jam-packed childhood vaccine schedule, can expect to soothe their newborn through as many as 15 "pokes" by his or her six-month checkup. More Whooping Cough Current Events and Whooping Cough News Articles |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||