Whooping Cough

A national epidemic has just been declared in New Zealand. Reported 260+ cases diagnosed in past four weeks. Whooping cough is potentially a fatal disease especially in younger children and babies less than one year. Three babies died last year in New Zealand from whooping cough when we didn’t have an epidemic!

What is whooping cough?

• Caused by a bacteria called pertussis.

• Damages lining of throat and lungs causing cough.

• Cough can go on for weeks or months – called ‘100’ day cough.

• Very easy to catch – spreads through the air – cough/sneezing - one person can on average spread to 12 others.

What are the signs?

• Depends on age - Younger the child more at risk of becoming very unwell.

• Starts with runny nose, temp and sneezing 1-2 weeks

• Cough develops, very irritating, bouts of coughing with gasping for air between coughs, may last minutes and may vomit after cough. Older children typically whoop as they gasp for breath.

• Younger infants less than 6 months: go blue with cough spasms, stop breathing, not able to feed, get exhausted – may need hospital.

• Gradually over weeks, up to 3 months cough gets better.

• In older adults and children – symptoms less severe.

Who is at risk?

• Partially immunized children.

• Babies too young for their first immunization at 6 weeks.

• Children with heart or lung conditions.

How is it treated?

• Antibiotics may reduce the severity if given early and can reduce spread.

• However, there is no treatment for the cough once it starts.

• Babies:

• The cough may make the baby difficult to breath and unable to feed.

• Sometimes will need to go to hospital for oxygen treatment and feeding through a nasal tube.

How do you prevent it and when to see your doctor?

• Immunization is the only protection.

• In particular pregnant mums after 16 weeks should be immunized as gives protection to baby in first6 weeks of life.

• Partially immunized children at risk.

• See your doctor if your child has difficulty breathing or looks unwell.

• Call ambulance if child or baby goes blue coughing, stops breathing or seizure.

Current outbreak

The latest ESR data, which covers the four weeks up to 8 November, showed rates were highest among infants less than a year old, those most vulnerable to severe disease, and with a high proportion requiring hospitalisation.

It also identified hotspots in in Wairarapa, Southern, Whanganui and Capital and Coast health districts.

Wairarapa had 13 cases, which was by far the highest rate at 25.4 cases per 100,000 people.

That was followed by Southern at 11.6 (42 cases), Whanganui at 11.4 (8 cases) and Capital and Coast at 10.4 (34 cases).