By Dr. Ronald Spiegel

Contributor, Snoqualmie Ridge Medical Clinic

Pertussis has been traveling around our communities at epidemic rates.

Pertussis (Bordetella Pertussis) is a bacterium that is highly contagious and spread by an infected person’s coughing. Typically, Pertussis presents like a common cold that evolves over a short period into a severe cough. It may become what is known as ‘whooping cough’ in which the infected person suffers from coughing attacks that make it difficult to catch one’s breath. The person is left gasping for air after a sudden coughing fit.

This bacterium is part of the routine vaccinations that infants and children receive during their visits to medical providers. It is the ‘P’ in the DTaP vaccine given to children and in the TdaP that 10-12 year olds and adults receive. The immunity attained from the vaccine is effective at preventing individuals from contracting the disease, but it is not 100 percent effective. There is a small percentage of people who can still contract the illness when vaccinated. In addition, the immunity garnered from the vaccine tends to fade away after five to 10 years. As a result, adolescents and adults become susceptible to it as their immunity fades away.

The most severe forms of the disease tend to affect infants less than 1 year old and also seniors older than 65. Others with compromised immune systems are also at increased risk for severe disease.

The good news is that we can treat an individual with the disease with antibiotics and typically see a full recovery. The best prevention is to get immunized. Children should follow the recommended DTaP vaccine course and the TdaP booster when they are 10 to 12 years old. After that age, we should all keep up with the TdaP booster every ten years.

If there are any questions, contact your medical provider or the King County Health Department.