Health officials have expressed concerns over a rising death toll in the Western Cape of children not vaccinated and dying of whooping cough (pertussis).
This year 22 children died after succumbing to the disease. The Western Cape Department of Health reported 408 cases of whooping cough in the country.
230 of the cases were in Western Cape – most of them recorded from September.
Also read: Whooping cough spike in the Western Cape
“Seven infants, all under the age of two months, have died from pertussis in the Western Cape in 2022.”
Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis.
Young children are at high risk when they are too young to be immunised. Immunisation can only start after six weeks.
These lab reports cannot be a true indication of the cases, leaving the health department to suspect there could be more cases not yet reported.
The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) advises parents to ensure that children are up-to-date with vaccinations and to seek medical attention early on, especially for children under the age of five.
Clinicians are also advised to be on alert for cases, report and notify them according to the National Health Act, and prescribe post-exposure prophylaxis to close and high-risk contacts if appropriate.
Signs and symptoms:
While they may vary between individuals, initial signs and symptoms are similar to common colds and may include:
- nasal congestion
- runny nose
- mild sore throat
- mild dry cough
- minimal or no fever
Days later, the cough can become more severe and characterised by:
- episodes of paroxysms (violent and uncontrolled coughing that is exhausting and painful)
- a whooping sound and/or vomiting after coughing.
Immunity following vaccinations is believed to last for five to six years.
For more information, visit the NICD website.
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