The Wicked Whoop

One of medicine's achievements is the near eradication of  of whooping cough.  Or so we thought.  This potentially devastating illness often attacks the very young resulting in spasm after spasm of violent coughing.  It is now also making a resurgence in adults.  The force of air through the throat results in a "whooping" noise, thus the name.  The cough is not only severe it is doggedly persistent, lasting for months in many patients.  There are antibiotics which treat the infection but even if started early, the cough may linger for months.  The disease is caused by the bacteria Bordetella Purtussis.  It is the "P" in the childhood vaccine DPT.  As children have been vaccinated, the incidence of whooping cough has dropped significantly in our society.  Given the aging population of those who have received the vaccine, there is now a sizeable number of adults who have never had whooping cough.  It was felt that the vaccine provided life long immunity until a few years ago when groups of cases started popping up.  We have now learned that adults need a booster.  A new form of the tetanus vaccine is available called the Tdap, which accomplishes just that.  It is recommended to be given immediately to anyone who has close contact with infants.  The rest of us should receive it ten years after our last tetanus shot.  It is a completely killed vaccine, not a partially live one. It is quite safe.  The most common effects are a sore arm or a headache.  Many people are not familiar with how bad whooping cough can be.  Let me assure you, it is worth having the pain of the vaccine.  Don't let the wicked whoop snatch you.  Ask your doctor about getting your vaccine.