Cardiff Child Diagnosed with Whooping Cough

The County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has confirmed that a six-year-old child in Cardiff has been diagnosed with pertussis, a contagious disease commonly called whooping cough.

The child was up-to-date on the pertussis vaccine, according to HHSA.

“While immunity from the vaccine wanes sooner than initially thought, vaccinated people who contract the disease experience milder symptoms,” stated Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., public health officer for the County.

To date, there have been 107 reported cases of whooping cough in the region this year, including another recent diagnosis of a 16-year-old in Escondido. Last year there were 400 cases reported locally.

A typical case of pertussis starts with a cough and runny nose for one to two weeks. That’s followed by rapid coughing fits that can last for weeks or months. Sometimes these coughing fits end with a whooping sound. Fever, if present, is usually mild.

Antibiotics can be used to treat pertussis, though death can result if there area complications. Infants are especially vulnerable to the disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children get doses of DTaP vaccine at the following ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months and 4 to 6 years. Health officials also recommend that preteens and adults get a Tdap booster.

Anyone who is not covered by a medical insurance plan can get the shot from a County Public Health Center at no cost.

For more information about whooping cough and ongoing vaccination clinics, call the HHSA Immunization Branch at (866) 358-2966, or visit www.sdiz.org.

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