Cases of pertussis have been recently diagnosed in the southern area of Sunrise Health Region.
Pertussis is a serious bacterial infection of the respiratory (breathing) system. Anyone can get pertussis, but the disease is most severe in children less than one year when it can be fatal. This disease is also severe in pregnant women in the last trimester of pregnancy as it can be passed to the newborn with the potential to cause severe complications and death. During the last four years (2011-2014), there have been 148 cases of pertussis reported in Saskatchewan and twenty percent of total cases were hospitalized.
Early symptoms of pertussis are sneezing, runny nose, a fever and a cough. Over time, the cough gets worse, leading to severe coughing spells with a whooping sound before the next breath and often ends in vomiting. The cough can last up to two months and can make it very hard to breathe. Young infants may not have these exact symptoms, and a parent or caregiver may not realize how sick their baby really is. Once a person has had pertussis, they do not develop life-long protection and may get the disease again.
If you or your child experiences these symptoms, please see your family physician or nurse practitioner as soon as possible for assessment.
Pertussis can be prevented by a vaccine given in childhood and in grade eight. As a way of protecting infants, especially those below the age of six months, the vaccine is also provided to caregivers of infants up to six months of age.
“I would like to take this opportunity to remind parents to ensure that your children’s vaccinations are up to date,” says Medical Health Officer, Dr. Ashok Chhetri. “If you are a caregiver of a young infant and wish to arrange immunization, or if you need more information about pertussis, please consult your local Public Health Nurse.”
The pertussis germ is spread very easily by infected people when they cough, sneeze or have close contact with others. Pertussis can easily spread from person to person, especially among people of the same household, school or daycare.
