ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, August 13th, 2012   –   In an effort to protect the health of all children in the Virgin Islands, the Ministry of Health and Social Development is advising parents and caregivers to ensure that all children in their care are fully immunized for Whooping Cough and other vaccine preventable diseases.

Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Dr. Ronald Georges told the Department of Information and Public Relations, “Pertussis or Whopping Cough is an acute bacterial infection of the respiratory tract, contracted by direct contact with droplets from infected persons through coughing and sneezing.”

The Pertussis or Whooping Cough vaccine is available at all community clinics in the Virgin Islands. Parents and caregivers are reminded that infants should be immunized for Pertussis at two months, four months and six months of age.

According to the Health Surveillance Unit in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Pertussis or Whooping Cough a vaccine preventable disease, is currently on the rise in North America and especially Canada. Parents and caregivers are therefore urged to ensure that their children’s immunizations are current.
The disease is most serious in young infants under 12 months. Furthermore, adults who were never immunized as children are also at risk of contracting the disease.

The disease usually starts with cold-like symptoms and maybe a mild cough or fever. After one to two weeks, severe coughing can begin. Unlike the common cold, Pertussis can become a series of coughing fits that continues for weeks. In infants, the cough can be minimal or non-existent. Infants may have a symptom known as "apnea."

Apnea is a pause in the child's breathing pattern. More than half of infants under 12 months diagnosed with Pertussis must be hospitalized.

Pertussis can cause violent and repeated rapid coughing, until the air is gone from the lungs and the patient is forced to inhale with a loud "whooping" sound.

This extreme coughing can cause the patient to vomit and become very tired. The "whoop" is often not there and the infection is generally milder in teens and adults, especially those who have been vaccinated. Early symptoms can last for one to two weeks and usually includes runny nose, low-grade fever, mild, occasional cough and apnea.

Once diagnosed, treatment will include a course of antibiotics. Affected persons should drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration, get rest and for easy breathing, ensure that all airways are cleared of mucus after coughing fits.

Additionally, ibuprofen and or paracetamol may be used to relieve other symptoms such as a high temperature and sore throat. Whooping cough is highly infectious and affected persons should stay at home until they have completed a five day course of antibiotics from their doctor.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development endeavours to provide leadership that promotes health, social well being and a safe environment.

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