The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) says alarm bells are ringing as a concerning amount of pertussis cases across South Africa is on a steady rise.
In a statement on Wednesday, the NCID says 147 cases have been notified from the start of 2022 to 15 September. There was a steady increase in the number of cases reported since May and a sharp rise from July through August and September.
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Of the 147 reported cases, the majority – 42% – are said to be from Western Cape. 77% were children under the age of five years with 89 children being younger than three months old.
The 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
What is pertussis?
Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It affects the respiratory tract and is highly contagious, easily transmitted from person to person via air droplets during the early stages of the disease.
Signs and symptoms:
While they may vary from 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 thought to last for five to six years.
For more information, visit the NICD website.
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