Kathleen Arrington, RN Kankakee County Health Department
Current Pertussis Statistics Year Reported Cases* 2000 7,867 2001 7,580 2002 9,771 2003 11,647 2004 25,827 2005 25,616 2006 15,632 2007 10,454 2008 13,278 2009 16,858 2010 27,550 2011* 18,719 *Total reported cases include those with unknown age.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, OR THE Hundred Day Cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breathes which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age.
Pertussis can be a serious illness, particularly for babies and young children More than 50% of babies with reported cases of pertussis must be hospitalized. Coughing can be so severe that it is hard for babies to eat, drink or breathe. Babies may bleed behind the eyes and in the brain from coughing. The most common complication is bacterial pneumonia. About 1 child in 10 with pertussis also gets pneumonia, and about 1 in every 50 will have convulsions. Brain damage occurs in 1 out of every 250 children who get pertussis. Pertussis causes about 10-20 deaths each year in the United States.
Currently we have free Tdap immunizations for new parents and close contacts of infants who financially qualify to receive them. Immunization requirements state all 6 th graders and 9 th graders who have not received Tdap need to be immunized. Encourage all adults to receive a Tdap
Why Do We Vaccinate? Vaccinations are one of the best ways parents can protect infants, children, and teens from 16 potentially harmful diseases. Vaccine-preventable diseases can be very serious, may require hospitalization, or even be deadly especially in infants and young children.
Lack of Knowledge Fear of side effects and/or safety Religious Beliefs
The United States has one of the best vaccine safety programs in the world. Scientists are constantly monitoring information from several sources for any clues that a particular vaccine may cause an adverse medical event, such as an allergic reaction.
Receiving combination vaccines or several different vaccines during one visit is very safe and offers the quickest protection against multiple diseases. It is very safe to receive several different vaccines during one visit. Studies show that combination vaccines (which combine multiple vaccines into a single vaccine) pose no greater risk for side effects than vaccines given individually, with few exceptions (such as the combined MMRV vaccine). Vaccines also are as effective in the combined form as they are when given separately.
Diseases that are almost unknown would stage a comeback. Before long we would see epidemics of diseases that are nearly under control today. More children would get sick and more would die.
Polio Measles Pertussis Diphtheria Hib Mumps Chickenpox Hepatitis B
IMPORTANT **ALL VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES ARE REPORTABLE DISEASES** These all must be reported to the Kankakee County Health Department. Please contact 815.802.9430 for any reportable information
Statistics through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have shown that trends of absenteeism in schools during the Flu season are the best indicators of showing the prevalence of Flu in the community
Daily Influenza Census ** Please e-mail this report to chartman@kankakeehealth.org** **If unable to e-mail report please fax to (815)802-9321** Please complete this form and e-mail daily to the Kankakee County Health Department for the purpose of flu surveillance. The following symptoms would be considered flu- like symptoms: Fever of 100 degrees F or higher with a sore throat and/or cough. ** Please report only those cases that fit flu-like symptoms** Please write legibly. Date School: Reporting Individual: Phone# Number of Students absent with flu like illness today Number of Staff absent with flu like symptoms today ** Please provide the information below, so we can monitor student/faculty absence rate** ** Total number of students enrolled in your school **Total number of staff/faculty employed in your school There are no absences related to flu like symptoms today.
Any Questions???
The Kankakee County Health Department www.kankakeehealth.org Illinois Department of Public Health www.idph.state.il.us The Center for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov