The PJCC | Your Center for Life

Pertussis & Flu Reminders

Stay up-to-date on the spread of seasonal illnesses and the steps you can take to prevent contracting them.

• Pertussis

• flu

 

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

There has been an increase in the number of cases of pertussis (commonly referred to as “Whooping Cough”) in San Mateo County and throughout the U.S. this year. 

Pertussis is an infection of the respiratory tract that usually lasts 6-10 weeks.  Symptoms begin with a runny nose, sneezing, possibly a low-grade fever, and mild cough.  After a week or two, a persistent cough develops, which may occur in explosive bursts (paroxysmal coughing), sometimes ending in a high-pitched whoop and vomiting.  Older children and adults may have a less typical cough.  Although the disease is less severe in adults and older children, they can unknowingly infect infants and preschoolers who are at risk for serious illness.

Pertussis can lead to serious complications, such as seizures and pneumonia, and even death. 83% of deaths from pertussis occur in infants younger than 3 months of age and household contacts have accounted for the majority of implicated transmissions to infants.

Pertussis is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes tiny droplets into the air and another person breathes them in.  An infected person is contagious at the time of the early cold-like symptoms, before persistent coughing starts.  Persons remain contagious until about three weeks after the persistent cough begins (for a total contagious period of about five weeks for untreated pertussis). Those treated with antibiotics are no longer contagious after completing five days of treatment.  San Mateo County Health System Communicable Disease Control Program recommends that children ill with pertussis remain home from camp during their contagious period.

Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease. Children should be vaccinated against pertussis with DTaP at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months.  Because immunity wanes five to ten years after vaccination, booster doses are recommended prior to school entry at 4-6 years of age (DTaP) and at 11-12 years of age (Tdap).  Adults should also receive a one-time booster (Tdap) in place of their routine tetanus vaccination with Td.  Adults who are at increased risk for contracting and/or transmitting pertussis (for example, those in close contact with infants 6 months of age or younger, employees in school, camp or child-care settings, and health-care providers) are particularly encouraged to receive a Tdap booster vaccination.

As a parent, you play a key part in helping to minimize and control the spread of pertussis. If your child displays any of the symptoms of pertussis listed above, bring him/her to a physician for evaluation right away and keep him/her home from summer camp while ill.

Make sure that your child is up-to-date on all vaccinations, and for you, ask your health care provider about the adult pertussis booster (Tdap vaccine).

For more information on Pertussis:

San Mateo County Health System: www.smhealth.org/pertussis       

California Department of Public Health: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Pertussis.aspx

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/

 

Flu

The PJCC wants to help do our part to keep everyone healthy. Please read these important precautionary guidelines to help avoid the spread of the flu.

• Monitor your own health and STAY HOME if you display flu-like symptoms.
• If you or someone in your home develops flu-like symptoms, contact your health care provider. S/he will determine whether flu testing and treatment are needed.
• Keep children who are sick at home.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Immediately discard the used tissue in the trash. 
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow instead of your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Hand sanitizer stations are placed throughout the Center for your use.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. This is how germs spread.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• The flu is spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

What should I do if I have the flu or someone I know is sick?

• San Mateo County Public Health recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Learn how to care for yourself as well as Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home from the CDC.  

Learn more by visiting these up-to-date resources:

• Centers for Disease Control website or call 1.800.CDC.INFO.
• San Mateo County Health System online or call the Health Emergency Information Line at 650.372.8572.