Community Corner

Back to School Health Alert: Watch Out for Whooping Cough

As summer is winding down, cases of whooping cough are on the rise in Minnesota and much of the nation. Here's what you can do to keep your kids healthy.

As your kids head off to school this year, a nasty bug may be along for the ride. According to health officials at Dakota County, whooping cough is on the upswing.

More than 2,000 cases of whooping cough have been reported statewide, including 150 in Dakota County, which makes this the the largest outbreak of the disease since 1947. The growing epidemic is not limited to Minnesota. Whooping cough, or pertussis, is spreading throughout the U.S. with about 18,000 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention so far. In all there have been 10 pertussis-related deaths in the U.S. over 2012.

"The number of cases we're seeing is unprecedented," Kris Ehresmann, the Minnesota Department of Health director of infectious diseases, told the Pioneer Press

Find out what's happening in Burnsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Pertussis typically peaks in cycles of three to five years, but this outbreak is unusually severe. The reason for the increase is unclear, she said, but waning immunity from the whooping cough vaccine could play into the current outbreak. The shots older elementary school students got as infants are wearing off, which is why officials are urging parents to get booster shots for ages 10 or older in addition to first-time vaccinations for wee ones.

To get more detailed information about whooping cough, Burnsville Patch contacted the clinic at the . Here's what you need to keep your famiy healthy and safe:

Find out what's happening in Burnsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

What are the symptoms? How can you distinguish between pertussis and a routine cold?

"With whooping cough the sound is one of the biggest things. The cough almost sounds like a dog bark," said Emma Duncanson, MD, from Fairview Clinics in Burnsville. "It's pretty forceful."

This is no ordinary cold. The coughing can be violent enough to break a rib, Ehresmann told the Pioneer Press.

Before the distinctive cough develops, it can be hard to identify, however. Duncanson said that anyone who suspects they may have whooping cough should get a nasal swab and culture, which will definitively diagnose the illness.

How long will it last?

The duration of the illness varies from person to person, Duncanson said, but it can be a long-lasting illness.

"Some are sick for a week, others a few weeks, but it can last up to three months," Duncanson said. "Usually it lasts one to two weeks."

There are added risks for vulnerable populations, Duncanson said. Whooping cough can really cause serious trauma in infants and children. The vaccine is most important for infants and small children, who are more likely to die from pertussis, Ehresmann said.

How can you prevent infection?

Vaccination is the best way to prevent whooping cough. For small children, ask for the DTaP vaccine, which offers protection against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. For older kids and adults, that would be a Tdap booster (not the same as DTap, though they protect against the same illnesses). According to Duncanson, the only other measure for prevention is to be given a prophylactic antibiotic shortly after exposure. 

What are the treatment options available?

Duncanson recomended that patients get treatment promptly, within the first two weeks of infection. After taking antibiotics for five days, whooping cough patients no longer spread the disease.

However, there are a few caveats.

"If you miss this two-week window, then antibiotics aren't effective. You have to get it soon, but at the same time, in clinic, we're very cautious about overprescribing antibiotics," Dr. Jon Hallberg told MPR. It's a bit of a conundrum we're in right now."

Do I have to get my kids vaccinated? Yes, though there are exceptions. In Minnesota, by law students must show they’ve had the required immunizations before they can attend school. However, parents can file for a legal exemption with the school. The exemption form must be signed by a health care provider or a conscientious objection signed by a parent/guardian and notarized.

Where can I get this vaccine? The vaccine is common and should be readily available at your primary care provider. However, if your health insurance doesn’t cover vaccines, contact Dakota County Public Health at 952-891-7999 to find out about low-cost vaccination clinics.

The vaccine is also available at Walgreens, Cub Pharmacies, and Minute Clinics.

Click here to see this information in Spanish.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here