CASES OF WHOOPING COUGH UP

There has been a major increase in the number of cases of whooping cough in the United States this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.

Missouri health officials also report an increase in the illness, considered serious at all ages. At least four cases of pertussis were reported the past two months in Southeast Missouri.

Health officials said whooping cough, called pertussis, can be prevented with timely immunizations.

The CDC said that from Jan. 3 through Dec. 4, 5,457 cases of pertussis were reported to the center. That's an 82 percent increase over the number of reported cases during the same period in 1992, and the highest annual number of cases reported since 1967.

In its weekly health-of-the-nation report, the CDC said that compared with 1992, the number of pertussis cases increased in 35 states, especially those in New England, middle-Atlantic, north central, and mountain regions. "During 1993, large outbreaks have occurred in Chicago and Cincinnati," the CDC report said.

Of the nearly 5,000 persons diagnosed with pertussis whose ages were known, 44 percent were infants under 1; 21 percent were 1-4; 11 percent were 5-9; and 23 percent were 10 or older. Of the 5,457 persons with pertussis, seven died.

The report said: "Based on the number of pertussis cases reported through Dec. 4, the projected total number of cases for 1993 will be the highest reported since 1967. Despite the resurgence in pertussis, the number of cases reported in 1993 represents more than a 96 percent decline from the annual number reported during the prevaccine era. (1948)."

Bob Castor of the Missouri Department of Health's Southeast Missouri office at Poplar Bluff said 136 cases of pertussis were reported in the state through Dec. 11. That compares with 110 cases at the same time last year.

Said Castor, "We've had four cases reported in Southeast Missouri; two in November and two so far in December. All of the cases involved children under 1 year of age."

The CDC said complications associated with pertussis may be severe, especially among infants. The symptoms include frequent non-productive coughing that eventually wears down its victim physically and makes it very difficult to breath. The two groups currently at greatest risk for severe complications are infants aged 6 months and under and under-vaccinated preschool children.

At least three doses of DPT (diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus) vaccine are required for effective protection against pertussis. The CDC said by age 6 months, infants should have had all three doses.

"The finding that approximately 50 percent of preschool-aged children with pertussis in 1993 were undervaccinated (did not receive the full three-dose series) underscores the importance of timely vaccination of children according to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices," the CDC report stated.

The report said the reasons for the resurgence of pertussis are unclear. "Vaccination coverage with three or more doses of DPT among children aged 2 has remained relatively stable but low (approximately 70 percent) since 1962."

Castor said the series of primary DPT immunizations are given at ages 2, 4 and 6 months, followed by a booster shot at age 15 months.

Although the state requires DPT vaccinations be completed before a child enters day care or kindergarten, health officials say compliance is always a problem despite numerous free or low-cost immunization clinics that are held by health centers statewide.

In Cape Girardeau County, DPT vaccination clinics are held on the first Monday and first Wednesday of each month at the Cape Girardeau County Health Center, 1121 Linden. On the last two Mondays of each month, the clinics are held in Jackson.

Each Friday afternoon the health center conducts a new-baby clinic that can administer the primary DPT immunizations.

Appointments are required for all of the clinics, along with a signed order by a physician.

For more information, contact the health center at 335-7846. Call 335-2229 for appointments for the new-baby clinic.