Over the past few weeks, the Hopewell Township Health Department has received reports from area physicians of pertussis (also known as whooping cough).
By Ruth Luse
In a Friday letter, Hopewell Valley Regional School District Assistant Superintendent John Bach informed district parents of "an unusually high number of cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in the Valley at this time."
Mr. Bach said the district had been alerted by the Hopewell Township Health Department. "Cases have been reported among both adults and children. We are aware of several active cases among our student population, all at Timberlane and Central High School, and one case earlier this fall at Stony Brook Elementary," he noted.
At the request of Hopewell Township Health Officer Gary Guarino, "we pass along this information and urge you to remain alert for the symptoms of this disease, particularly if your children have not been immunized against it," said Mr. Bach.
Mr. Guarino, in a Monday news release, said:
"Over the past few weeks, the Hopewell Township Health Department has received reports from area physicians of pertussis (also known as whooping cough)."
At least eight cases involved Hopewell Valley youth and adults.
"Whooping cough, a vaccine-preventable disease, can be a serious illness. It is quite contagious and can spread easily through the air from a sick person during talking, sneezing or coughing. Although, all of these cases have not been confirmed pursuant to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) criteria, as a precaution, the Health Department is urging everyone to familiarize themselves with the signs and symptoms of this disease to ensure early diagnosis and treatment and minimize the spread."
Mr. Guarino added: "The cases under review by the department have involved individuals reported to have been previously immunized. Because of prior vaccination, the symptoms have been relatively mild, usually a persistent cough, which may be followed with vomiting after severe bouts of coughing. Therefore, the physicians may not have readily diagnosed the illness as pertussis. In most of the cases the physicians have prescribed antibiotics, and have ordered blood work, which has come back as positive for pertussis. To meet the CDC case definition for a confirmed case of pertussis, a nasopharyngeal culture for the bacteria is required. Anyone experiencing symptoms, described below, should request their physician to obtain the nasopharyngeal culture in addition to blood work prior to taking any antibiotics.
"Pertussis is a bacterial respiratory illness characterized by symptoms similar to a common cold. Children suffering from whooping cough often develop coughing fits, especially at night, giving a high-pitched ‘whoop’ sound. The ‘whoop’ is a sign that the person is struggling to breathe between coughs. Although deaths are rare, they do occur, especially in infants less than 1 year of age."
Mr. Guarino said: "Adults and adolescents usually have a milder form of the disease consisting of a persistent cough lasting longer than a week, and may be indistinguishable from other upper respiratory infections. The inspiratory ‘whoop’ is uncommon. Even though the disease may be milder, these infected persons may transmit the disease to others, especially nonimmunized or underimmunized infants."
Valley parents are urged to check their children’s immunization records to be sure they have received all their shots. Those not sure about what shots their children have received should contact their physicians to bring their children’s immunizations up to date as soon as possible.
Anyone who is experiencing these symptoms, or who has been exposed to a person with the disease should be seen by a physician. Antibiotics are used to treat the disease, and prevent the transmission of the illness to others.
For more information visit the CDC Web site: www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pertussis/chapter10.pdf, or the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services Web site: www.state.nj.us/health/cd/f_pertussis.htm.
Parents or medical providers with questions or information on known cases should contact Public Health Nurse Joanne McMichael at 737-0120, ext. 638.