25 September 2008

Whooping cough alert

NSW Health has today issued a health alert warning people, especially parents, to be on the look out for the symptoms of whooping cough following an increase in cases across NSW.

Whooping cough is usually more prevalent during winter and spring.

There have been almost 3,000 cases reported so far this year, more than double the number for the same period last year. A large number of cases are occurring in particular in Western Sydney, and on the North Coast of NSW.

NSW Health Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jim Bishop, said whooping cough can be unpleasant for people of any age but it can prove to be very serious in babies, even fatal.

"Young babies under 6 months will not have been fully vaccinated so they remain vulnerable to whooping cough," said Professor Bishop.

"The advice of NSW Health is that the best way to protect babies is to keep them away from anyone with a cough and to make sure their immunisations are up to date," he said.

A booster vaccine is available for adolescents and adults from GPs. People who have contact with small children, such as parents or grandparents, or people working with small children including health care and childcare workers should receive this vaccine.

Whooping cough is easily spread to other people by droplets from coughing. Someone with whooping cough will be able to spread it to other people for up to three weeks after onset (unless they are treated with antibiotics). So it is important that people are treated early to stop the spread of the disease.

Whooping cough usually begins just like an ordinary cold with a runny nose, tiredness and sometimes a mild fever. Coughing bouts then develop with attacks followed by a big deep gasp that sometimes produces a whooping sound. Vomiting may follow these bouts of coughing. Adults often just have a cough without the whoop.

"Whooping cough can be very serious in babies and small children who might go blue or even stop breathing during a coughing attack. Often children need to be treated in hospital," Professor Bishop said.

"If your child has a coughing illness that lasts more than a few days, see your doctor."

NSW Health recommends that all children be given the combination vaccine to protect against six conditions including whooping cough - this vaccine should be given at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months of age. A further vaccine is given at age 4 years, with a booster due at age 15. The NSW school-based vaccination program provides immunisation for adolescents against whooping cough, among other diseases.

"If your child starts school next year, don't wait until January to have him or her immunised - do it now. See your doctor if you or your child have a coughing illness that lasts more than a few days," Professor Bishop said.

Related links:

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au