Deliverable 7 - Prepare for a Whooping Cough Outbreak
Gladiola
WHOOPINGCOUGH_ppt.pptxWHOOPING COUGH: ACTION PLAN
INTRODUCTION
Whooping cough also known as pertussis
It is described as an acute respiratory infection of the nose, throat and lungs
It is caused by a germ referred to as Bordetella pertussis
It is infectious and affects individuals of all ages
It is preventable through immunization
Early detection is very critical.
SYMPTOMS
It is characterized by a runny nose, fever and persistent coughs
The cough can cause vomiting, choking and gasping for breath characterized by a whooping sound.
The cough lasts for several months
Infants may require medical attention
TRANSMISSION
It is spread when the infected individuals cough or sneeze without covering their mouth and noses
Individual who are close to them are in turn exposed to the germs
The period between exposure and mortality is usually 7-10 days but it can even be up to 3 weeks
An individual who is untreated is regarded as infectious for the first three weeks
After five days the infected individual after receiving antibiotics is no longer infectious.
PREVENTION
Immunization
All four doses of the pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus combination vaccine (DTaP) given to babies on time is critical.
Infected individuals must be kept away from infants.
IMMUNIZATION
Infants and young children: Administered to children at six weeks, 4 months, 6 months and 4 years respectively
Teenagers: Protection at infancy lessens after 5-10 years, a booster dose at 10 years is therefore critical
Adults: Partners planning for pregnancy, parent and grandparent of new born infant and anyone in close contact to the infant
CASE DEFINITIONS
Suspected case: Any individual who will be suspected with pertussis i.e. unexplained coughing that has lasted more than 14 days
Confirmed case: Any individual who shows signs and symptoms of pertussis acquired from a respiratory specimen or positive serology
DIAGNOSIS
A nose and throat swab.
A blood test
Notification of cases must be notified to the health department
Families and people in contact with the affected must be followed up
IDENTIFICATION OF CASE CONTACTS
Case Contacts : individual who share confined spaces i.e. 6 feet from each other
Household and family members
Those with direct contact to respiratory secretions
Healthcare workers
Close friends, social contacts, boyfriends, girlfriends
Students sitting within 3 feet at school
Contacts at church activities and employment
Participants in extracurricular activities
Children attending after-school care or a playgroup
PRIORITY GROUPS
Group 1: Children under the age of 1 year old with fewer than three doses of pertussis vaccine. Mostly at risk from severe complications
Group 2: Children of any age who are severely immunocompromised
Group 3: Individuals at risk of transmitting pertussis to those in Group 1 and 2, but only if they are unvaccinated against pertussis, or were vaccinated less than 1 week or more than 5 years ago
Pregnant women > 32 weeks gestation
HCW working with infants, pregnant women or severely immunocompromised children
ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE
Isolation: Non-hospitalized victims of pertussis who have to remain away from crowded places until they received five days of appropriate antibiotic therapy
Quarantine: Susceptible contacts must remain away from crowded places until the end of 21 days since their last exposure or five days after receiving antibiotics
PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSIBILITY
Prevention of the illness in high-risk individuals through disease investigation and provision of vaccines
Promoting vaccination as a way of reducing the burden of the disease
Providing information to the public in regards to disease transmission
Monitoring the disease trends
REFERENCES
CDC(2005 revision). Guidelines for the Control of Pertussis Outbreaks
Heymann David (2004). Control of Communicable Diseases Manual (18th Edition), MD.
Pickering Larry (2009). Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases (27th Edition), MD.
