Pertussis surveillance - United States, 1986-1988
Article Abstract:
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an acute infectious disease. It typically begins with symptoms of the common cold and progresses to episodes of severe coughing often followed by vomiting. Improvement may be seen after several weeks in the severe stage, but the cough may linger for months. Pertussis can be prevented by immunization in infancy. The reported incidence of pertussis was 10,468 cases in the years 1986 to 1988, which represented an average annual increase of 17 percent over the rate reported in 1984 and 1985. The increase was apparently due to a very large outbreak among children in Kansas during 1986; without these cases the overall rate of pertussis was fairly steady from 1984 to 1988. The most common age of patients with pertussis was less than one year; the prevalence decreased with increasing age. The recommended schedule of immunization includes four doses of DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccine to be given at specific intervals during the first two years of life. The first dose should be given before the age of three months. Of the children under age four who had pertussis and whose immunization status was known, 63 percent had not been properly immunized and 34 percent had not been given any doses of the vaccine. The antibiotic erythromycin is recommended for the treatment of pertussis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1990
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Pertussis and pertussis vaccines in adults
Article Abstract:
Many physicians believe that only children contract pertussis (whooping cough), but approximately 12% of the 27,826 cases of whooping cough reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 1980 and 1989 occurred in individuals over 15 years of age. Studies of adults with persistent cough have found that as many as one-fourth have evidence of Bordetella pertussis infection. Most children are vaccinated against pertussis, but their immunity declines as they mature. Adults can actually serve as carriers of the organism. Physicians are reluctant to vaccinate adults because of the potential side effects and possible lawsuits. However, the old vaccine, based on the entire bacterial cell, has been replaced with acellular vaccines. These vaccines have been shown to be effective in adults and have few side effects.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1993
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FDA approval of use of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine
Article Abstract:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of ACEL-IMUNE for the fourth and fifth dose in the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DPT) schedule. ACEL-IMUNE is a diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1992
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