Whooping Cough Outbreak In Spokane Health Officials Diagnose A Dozen Cases Recently, Feel It’s Tip Of Iceberg
A dozen Spokane County children have been diagnosed with pertussis, or whooping cough, and health officials suspect many others were exposed.
Ten of the children, who were diagnosed during the past week, are students at Gonzaga Preparatory School. At least one attends Cataldo Catholic School, and one is an 18-month-old girl.
“My suspicion is we’ve uncovered a very small portion of the cases,” said Dr. Paul Stepak, epidemiologist at the Spokane County Health District.
“Though the teenagers aren’t necessarily getting very sick themselves, they pose an infectious risk to little babies and young children.”
Health officials have questioned more than 100 families whose children may have had contact with the kids diagnosed first. Of those, about 24 have been tested and 10 were positive. Stepak expects to test at least a dozen more.
Most of the children had been immunized and didn’t become seriously ill. None of them were hospitalized, said Stepak.
As children who have been vaccinated get older, their immunity against pertussis wanes.
But Stepak worries some kids may develop whooping cough and not realize it.
“You cannot rely on the classic signs in an affected teenager,” Stepak said.
“A teenager, who having been immunized once has partial immunity, might get anything ranging from a mild sore throat to a cough and a sniffle.”
In infants and young children, however, pertussis can be fatal. Classic symptoms include a runny nose, watery eyes and an irritating cough. The cough worsens, followed by gagging and vomiting.
Complications can include pneumonia, convulsions and swelling of the brain.
Pertussis is caused by a bacteria and is spread through coughing and sneezing. Usually, someone exposed shows no signs of illness for a week or more.
Stepak asks that anyone with questions about pertussis exposure call their doctor or contact the Spokane County Health District at 324-1451 or 324-1600.
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