Special to IFN
Pertussis, more commonly referred to as whooping cough, is on the rise in Western North Carolina counties, including Iredell. The Iredell County Health Department has urged the public to protect themselves.
Dr. Judith Prairie, board-certified family medicine physician with Iredell Health System, weighs in:
“Whooping cough is extremely contagious to begin with,” Prairie explained. “If people do not stay on top of their booster, immunity fades over time, especially if it has been a while since their last Tdap vaccine. It’s estimated that about 80 percent of people with no immunity will get whopping cough if exposed to an infected person.”
Whooping cough is spread through droplets by coughing, sneezing, and sharing air space with an infected person. It usually starts like a common cold with symptoms of runny nose, sneezing, congestion, mild coughing, and a fever, but can last up to 10 weeks and lead to more serious illnesses like pneumonia. Whooping cough, a respiratory infection, gets its name from the hallmark “whoop” sounding cough that is typically present when infected.
“It can be serious for any age group, but the most vulnerable are those under the age of one. They are still developing their immune systems and have not been fully vaccinated against it. Infants typically do not exhibit the traditional ‘whooping’ cough and instead show decreases in their appetite and breathing,” said Prairie.
Cases of whooping cough have decreased over the last century thanks to the widespread availability of vaccines. Vaccinations decrease your chance of becoming infected and typically decrease symptoms if you do contract the illness. Prairie is a strong advocate for vaccinating against Pertussis.
“The best protection by far is vaccination. Hand washing and wearing a mask around infected people may help,” she said.
The Tdap vaccine, or DTaP for infants and children, protects against three deadly illnesses:
• Tetanus, which causes painful stiffening of muscles;
• Diphtheria, which causes difficulty breathing and paralysis; and
• Pertussis
“People are usually vaccinated against these during routine childhood immunizations and women are vaccinated every pregnancy once during the third trimester. It is recommended that all adults receive a Tdap once every 10 years or after five years in case of dirty wound or burn,” said Prairie.
The Iredell County Health Department offers vaccinations at both the Statesville and Mooresville locations. Payment for vaccines can be private pay, Medicaid, or BC/BS & Cigna commercial insurance. Some clients may meet eligibility criteria to receive state-supplied vaccines at no cost to them. You can also reach out to your family medicine provider for vaccines.
LEARN MORE
Dr. Judith Prairie is accepting new patients of all ages at Family Care Center of Mooresville. Call 704-360-6580 to schedule an appointment. For more information, visit fccofmmoresville.com.
About Iredell Health System
Iredell Health System includes Iredell Memorial Hospital; Iredell Davis Medical Center; Iredell Davis Behavioral Health Hospital; Iredell Mooresville; Iredell Home Health; Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center; Community and Corporate Wellness; Occupational Medicine; the Iredell Physician Network and more. Iredell Memorial Hospital is the largest and only nonprofit hospital in Iredell County. The comprehensive healthcare organization has 391 licensed beds; close to 2,000 employees; and has approximately 365 healthcare providers representing various specialties. Centers of excellence include Women’s and Children’s; Cardiovascular; Cancer; Surgical Services and Wellness & Prevention. The health system’s Iredell Mooresville campus is home to the area’s only 24-hour urgent care facility, as well as an ambulatory surgery center, imaging center, rehabilitation services, and physician practices. The mission of Iredell Health System is to inspire wellbeing. For a comprehensive list of services and programs, visit www.iredellhealth.org.